Noxious Weeds Are Silent Predators
Montana faces the presence of various types of predators like grizzly bears, mountain lions, and rattlesnakes but the weed impact awareness bulletin and display encourages readers to question their idea of what a predator really is. While animal predators can cause problems for people throughout the state, plant predators can destroy lives.
Noxious Weeds Are Harmful
Noxious weeds create serious problems for the ecology of Montana. Fish, wildlife, native plants, and wildlands are affected by the presence of noxious weeds. Animals and fish can lose their homes and food sources to noxious weeds. Native plant communities are being taken over and destroyed by noxious weeds. And the wildlands and recreation areas enjoyed by both animals and humans are left without their natural beauty and habitat.
Noxious Weeds Are Expensive
The presence of noxious weeds costs Montanans millions of dollars each year. Currently, all weeds cost Montana farmers over $100 million in expenses and crop production losses each year. Spotted knapweed is estimated to cost $42 million to Montana each year. These losses cost Montanans jobs, crops, and their livelihoods. So which is more dangerous, a grizzly bear or noxious weeds? After reading this informative bulletin, you might be surprised at your answer.
Noxious Weeds Can Be Stopped
By helping people become aware of the serious impacts generated by the presence of noxious weeds we can work to contain and prevent the spread of these invasive plants and hope to someday eradicate them. The weed impact awareness bulletin and display are useful for presentations, as counter displays, in classrooms, in lobbies, or any other public place. To get the bulletin and display, contact your county agent or local weed district. County agents and weed district supervisors can obtain this product by calling the MSU Extension Office at (406) 994-2373 and asking for Extension Bulletin 152 and the accompanying weed impacts display.
If you are interested in volunteering to work on the Awareness Campaign for the General Public contact Carla Hoopes at choopes@montana.edu, call 406-994-5683, or write to:
