Preventing Invasive Weeds

Preventing Invasive Weeds

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
Protecting our recreational lands from invasive, noxious weeds. Those who enjoy great recreational opportunities are urged to help fight the threat of invasive noxious weeds. As an example, Oregon has created an Invasive Weed Awareness Week.

 

A key message is that in order to keep our public lands a recreational paradise, it's imperative that invasive noxious weeds don't get established where people hike, bike, hunt, fish, and generally enjoy our natural resources. Tim Butler manages the Oregon Department of Agriculture's Noxious Weed Control Program:

 "I think often times people think of invasive noxious weeds as weeds in their lawn or garden or an agricultural problem. What we are trying to emphasize this year is the importance that these things impact all Oregonians, our natural resources, and recreation, in particular." 

Here's Natural Resources Specialist Kent McAdoo at University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. "Invasive weeds pose a problem no matter who you are, they typically outcompete with more desirable vegetation, the vegetation that we value for anything from livestock to wildlife habitat to the landscape vegetation that we like as recreationists. 

 Whether it's yellow starthistle impeding hikers, ribbongrass affecting fishing, or puncturevine on bike paths resulting in flat bike tires, noxious weeds play havoc with the outdoors. ODA's Tristen Berg hopes  recreationalists realize the key role they play in prevention:

 "Whether it's your boat tires, your boots, your horse, you could be hunting, hunting gear, firewood, kayaking– pretty much anything you enjoy doing outside could be a way of spreading noxious weeds unintentionally."  

 Use common sense steps like cleaning anything that might pick up weed seeds and carry them to other locations, will go a long way in keeping our public lands as a great recreational place to be.

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