Weed and Pest District Supervisor talks on invasive grasses after fires

The Sheridan County Weed and Pest Control District, along with its partners and the University of Wyoming, has been fighting a war against invasive grasses that have taken root in the Cowboy State.

Supervisor of the Sheridan County Weed and Pest Control District, Walker Billings, made an appearance on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse to discuss the severity of the invasive grass species that are present in the county and pose a very real risk of outcompeting native grasses after the fires that have impacted the region. 

According to Billings, invasive grasses such as Ventenata and Medusahead have become a contributing factor to the decline of grazing land along with the traditional Cheatgrass. The fires have raised the awareness of these invasive species because those annual grasses are already germinating. Meaning they will be the first to return in the Spring. Cheatgrass can be grazed for a short time, the other two cannot. But the grasses also come and go quickly, creating fuels for future fire potential. 

W. Billings

Billings and his team enjoy speaking with producers and farmers and are ready to work with any landowners who may find one of the annual grass species on their property. Getting ahead of the problem is key and the district employs multiple techniques to combat the problem. 

W. Billings

Billings invites everyone in the community to learn how to identify these species and report any annual grasses to the Sheridan County Weed and Pest District. Find identification and contact information by visiting the Sheridan County Weed and Pest District website by clicking here.