Spread of noxious weeds
Noxious weeds can be spread by Mother Nature, wildlife, domestic animals, birds, vehicles, boats and people through a variety of ways. The places where you can inevitably find noxious weeds are disturbed ground and water and roadways. Any time the ground is disturbed, be it utility companies trenching lines or a forest fire that scorches the earth, the first things to spring up following a disturbance are weeds. Due to the high volume of traffic along roadways and waterways, noxious invaders are distributed, often unknowingly, along those routes through seeds in car tires or weeds hung up in the undercarriages, or boats whose rudders picked up the parts of noxious weeds or aquatics. In addition to these common methods of distribution, wind can carry seeds, wild animals pick up seeds in their fur or hooves or seeds can maintain viability though digestive tracts in many instances; birds can distribute seeds in the same way, which can answer the question as to why a certain noxious weed cropped up in the middle of nowhere! Your hunting dog can also unknowingly distribute seeds from the hunting field to your back yard. If you’ve ever had to pull off little tiny brown burrs off of your dog’s coat, he has probably picked up houndstongue seeds, and extremely invasive plant taking over large acreages across the state. Finally, people contribute to the spread of noxious weeds by doing such things as buying nursery stock containing noxious weeds (salt cedar, St. John’s Wort, and oxeye daisy are a few that are still sold despite the fact that they are on Montana’s noxious weed list) and by picking wildflowers or “pretty plants” and bringing them home. There are several noxious weeds that are so dangerous that even a portion of a stem or leave can propagate wherever the plant part is dropped.

Things Anyone can do to Prevent Weed Spread
The best things you can do to prevent noxious weeds to become AWARE and educated about noxious weeds. If you are reading this, you have become aware, now if you will work on becoming educated about noxious weeds, you will be a huge step ahead of thousands of Montanans. How do you become better educated? By learning which noxious weeds are prevalent in your area and what they look like at all stages of growth (see here). Other important ways to prevent weed spread include driving on established roads, cleaning vehicles and boats before and after recreating, not buying nursery stock listed on the Montana State list (also be aware of plants labeled invasive in nature), cleaning your dogs, your clothing, and your gear after being out in infested areas, when packing in the wilderness, use weed seed free forage and pen your animals before and after your trip to ensure seeds aren’t spread through manure.

As a Montanan, strive to be a good steward of the land., and remember that in our state, managing noxious weeds is the law. Report infestations when you find them and if you decide to pull plants, make sure to get all of the plant and dispose of it in a plastic bag. Work with your county weed coordinator to establish a weed management plan for your own property and monitor and manage infestations. Lastly, become involved in weed management efforts either through events put on by area weed professionals or through weed management area groups in your area. Any weed professional out there will tell you that it is the volunteers that help make their programs and their efforts successful.

Zero Spread