JACKSON, Wyo. — This week, Feb. 24 to 28, is National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW), and Teton County Weed and Pest (TCWP) is participating with local invasive species management efforts.
According to Lesley Beckworth, TCWP landowner and outreach coordinator, NISAW aims to help raise awareness amongst decision makers and elected officials about invasive species and their impact on both the environment and the economy.
“Invasive species can impact all levels of our lives,” Beckworth tells Buckrail. “For this NISAW, for me, the emphasis is making sure that invasive species management doesn’t get lost in the shuffle of all the decisions being made at a national level, because it does have a host a host of ecological and economic impacts.”
In Teton County, with cheatgrass in particular, the potential loss of suitable habitat for that alone is estimated to be over $200,000/year. Beckworth also notes that cheatgrass is altering the local fire regime, which reduces the amount of cover sage-grouse have among a host of other issues; Buckrail previously reported that because cheatgrass emerges earlier in the season and dries out faster than other plants, it effectively extends the local fire season by at least six weeks.
Invasive plant species can also be toxic to humans and wildlife, actively impact forage available for elk and moose with consequences for large predators if prey numbers fall and reduce access to recreational spaces, rivers and streams and property, Beckworth confirms.
In Teton County, even in winter, community members and visitors can contribute to the mission of invasive species management by engaging in the following:
- Ask political representatives at the state, local and national levels to support invasive species funding for prevention and management efforts.
- Remember to PlayCleanGo: Clean gear, boots, skis, snowmobiles, bikes and other equipment in between outings.
- Don’t let it loose: never dump aquariums or live bait into waterways.
- Buy firewood locally or gather on site when permitted.
- Buy forage, hay and gravel that are certified as “weed-free.”
- Buy plants from a reputable source and plant native species to support local ecosystems as spring arrives. Avoid using invasive plant species at all costs.
- Sign up to be a Habitat Hero and volunteer to help remove invasive species from public lands and natural areas.
“For us locally in Teton County, we have a lot of people who are aware of invasive species,” Beckworth says. “That’s half the battle, getting people to recognize the impact.”
But Beckworth emphasizes there is still a need for people to familiarize themselves with local species, what they look like and the priority level of each species. Not all invasive plants are as obvious as cheatgrass and thistles, but Beckworth says they can still “wreak havoc” on the ecosystem.
