The hills near Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, are engulfed by the rapid growth of kudzu, an invasive plant often referred to as the “vine that ate the south” due to its ability to cover virtually anything in its path. This vigorous vine, originally from Japan, was once promoted as an ornamental plant and a means to stabilize soil, but it has since spread uncontrollably, posing a threat to local ecosystems by preventing native plants and trees from thriving.