NISAW: Defending Our Health By Stopping the Spread

Shining a Light on Invasive Species

Invasive species are a worldwide threat, posing danger not just to wildlife and our environment, but to agriculture, economies, and our very health. National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW) is an annual campaign led by The North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) that’s dedicated to shining a spotlight on the widespread damage caused by invasive species and how we can work together to stop them.

The platform that NISAW provides helps us educate and activate our community to prevent and manage the spread of invasive species right here in our own backyard: Teton County.

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Teton County’s Most Wanted

Our beautiful and diverse ecosystem is increasingly threatened by harmful, non-native plants. The list is long, and the threats posed from tenacious nuisances to potentially catastrophic and even life-threatening. Here are some of the most concerning species to keep a lookout, plus the areas they’re spreading:

Cheatgrass (Downy Brome)

A fine, soft grass that turns golden brown by summer—also one of the most damaging invasive plants in Teton County. It dries out early, increasing wildfire risk, and outcompetes native grasses, degrading sagebrush habitat. It’s widespread in Shadow Mountain, Game Creek, Cache Creek, and along the Snake River, and could cause up to $110 million in damages a year if left unchecked.

Spotted Knapweed

Growing up to three feet tall with purple flowers and black-tipped bracts, Spotted knapweed can reduce native plant cover by up to 90% and releases chemicals that prevent other plants from growing. It thrives alondside roadsides and trails.

Leafy Spurge

With yellow-green floral leaves, small flowers, and the ability to shoot seeds up to 15 feet, leafy spurge spreads quickly and is hard to remove due to deep roots. Its sap irritates skin and harms cattle. It’s commonly found in riparian areas, pastures, and irrigated fields.

Yellow and Dalmatian Toadflax

Yellow toadflax has narrow leaves and yellow-orange flowers, while Dalmatian has broad, waxy leaves, and both spread aggressively through seeds and roots and displace native vegetation. They’re found along roadsides, trails, and meadows.

Houndstongue

With rough, tongue-shaped leaves and red flowers, houndstongue is toxic to livestock. It spreads through sticky seeds that cling to clothes and animals, and it’s common along trails and disturbed areas.

Musk Thistle and Related Thistles

With spiny leaves and purple flower heads, musk, bull, and Canada thistles reduce forage and crowd out native plants. Canada thistle spreads by roots, making it persistent in fields, rangelands, and roadsides.

Black Henbane

Black henbane is toxic to humans and animals, spreading rapidly in disturbed areas. It’s seen near roadsides and trailheads. The plant has greasy leaves, a strong odor, and pale flowers with dark purple centers.

For a more thorough list, you can browse our Invasive Plant Database.

Cultivating Community Protection

We aren’t alone in this fight to protect our environment. While cheatgrass, ventenata, and medusahead choke out native plants and make wildfires worse across the sagebrush steppe and high mountain valleys, you can help us find and prevent infestations. While quagga and zebra mussels outcompete native aquatic life and damage infrastructure, you can help by checking your gear and vehicles to make sure it’s not hitching a ride to new waters.

Community engagement is critical. We’re all part of Teton County, and we’re all responsible for keeping it healthy for generations to come. Whether you’re a local landowner or a one-time visitor, your actions have a ripple effect. Cleaning boots, brushing off pets, using certified weed-free hay, and reporting infestations are just a few ways you can help stop the spread.

We Help You Thrive, You Help Us Thrive

We all have a role to play in protecting Wyoming’s wild spaces. Part of ours is to provide you the tools, knowledge, and support you need to take action. Whether you’re a:

Community member noticing a new patch of invasive plants.
Visitor or tourist hiking or camping in public lands.
Landowner managing a property at risk.

We’re here to help. We offer plant ID resources, management guides, and direct support to help you recognize and remove invasives. Together, we can preserve the unique biodiversity, scenic beauty, and ecological health of Teton County for years upon years to come.

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