When it comes to fighting invasive species in Wyoming, our "secret weapon" is PARTNERSHIPS! This holiday season, we would like to highlight some partnerships that have contributed to the success of weed control programs in Teton County and the rest of the state.

Ready...Set...PlayCleanGo!

PlayCleanGo is a national campaign against invasive species that is especially relevant in the outdoor-loving state of Wyoming. The campaign's goal is to help outdoor recreators see the link between fun in the outdoors and the inadvertent spread of invasive species along recreation pathways. The campaign message provides a clear call to action: PlayCleanGo - Stop Invasive Species in Your Tracks! In other words, have fun doing what you love to do outside, but be informed, attentive and accountable so that you are not spreading invasive species through your outdoor activities.

The land within JHWMA boundaries encompasses 2.7 million acres and includes all or part of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, Bridger-Teton and Caribou-Targhee National Forests, the National Elk Refuge, private land, and other state and federal parcels. This important partnership acknowledges that noxious weeds do not recognize jurisdictional boundaries and must be managed cooperatively on an ecosystem level.

The JHWMA meets quarterly to share successes and failures and to plan new projects and activities. Speaking of projects, the annual Gros Ventre River Spray Days is a project started by JHWMA in 2004 that continues to this day. Every year in July, land management entities from around the state get together to treat spotted knapweed along the Gros Ventre River. After 13 years, the knapweed infestation is noticeably less dense!

Another ongoing project initiated by the JHWMA is the 4th Grade Wildlife Expo. For one day in May every year, about 200 4th graders from around Teton County converge on the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center for the event. They visit different educational stations staffed by JHWMA member agencies and learn about a wildlife related theme that changes each year.

Teton County 4th graders learn about the negative impact of invasive species on wildlife at the annual JHWMA Wildlife Expo.

As a JHWMA member, the Teton County Weed and Pest District coordinates the Wildlife Expo and provides weed management services to private landowners in Teton County. These services include free noxious weed consultations and weed management plans, a 50% discount on herbicides, and free backpack sprayer rentals. Visit our website to learn more about these services.

Are you interested in becoming a JHWMA member? Find out how!

Current members of the Jackson Hole Weed Management Association include:

Bridger-Teton National Forest

Bureau of Land Management

Bureau of Reclamation

Caribou-Targhee National Forest

Friends of Pathways

Grand Teton National Park

Hanna Outfitting

Intermountain Aquatics

Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance

Jackson Hole Land Trust

Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation

Jackson/Teton County Parks & Recreation

National Elk Refuge

Natural Resource Conservation Service

Snake River Fund

Teton Conservation District

Teton County Weed and Pest District, Wyoming

Teton County Weed Department, Idaho

Wyoming Dept. of Transportation

Wyoming Game and Fish Commission

The Wyoming Mining and Natural Resources Foundation 

The Wyoming Mining Natural Resource Foundation (WMNRF) is a nonprofit corporation founded by members of the trona and coal mining industries in southwest Wyoming. As their name implies, WMNRF is dedicated to both improving people's lives through mining industry practices and products, and partnering with other stakeholders to develop solutions to natural resource challenges. Their strategy brings landowners, land managers, and academia to the table with industry to discuss, develop, and implement innovative conservation practices based on sound scientific research. This foundation and the partnerships it has formed are a great example of what can be accomplished when industry collaborates with private landowners and land management agencies to address landscape-scale issues.

The vision for creation of the WMNRF was inspired by a cooperative, voluntary conservation initiative led by the trona/soda ash industry with an objective of benefiting the Greater sage-grouse and other sagebrush obligate species and conserving the habitat on which they depend in southwestern Wyoming.

The WMNRF has most recently become involved in combating the invasive species problem in southwest Wyoming. They started by hosting a workshop for stakeholders impacted by invasive weeds to clarify the extent and threat of these species in the region, and discuss treatment priorities and potential long-term solutions. The workshop was held last April in Green River and was attended by representatives from conservation and agricultural organizations, private landowners, academia, university extension and research stations, and local, state and federal agencies. This collaboration resulted in a commitment from WMNRF to help fund future invasive species projects in the area.

 

Later that summer, the foundation had an opportunity to put their words into action. Dan Madsen, supervisor at Sweetwater County Weed and Pest District, introduced the foundation to two landowners with property along the Blacks Fork River that was infested with Canada thistle, perennial pepperweed, wild licorice, salt cedar, and a few other species. After visiting the site, the WMNRF agreed to fund herbicide treatment on the 227-acre infestation for three consecutive years. The treatment area was later expanded to 513 total acres to include adjacent private and public land parcels that were also infested.

 

In 2017, WMNRF funded herbicide treatment on 513 acres of weed-infested private and public lands along the Blacks Fork river, in Sweetwater County. This is part of their commitment to support habitat improvement projects in southwest Wyoming.

The partnership demonstrated by the WMNRF is a great example of how bringing the right people to the table - people who can contribute the necessary knowledge, skills, experience, or resources - is the way to solve natural resource problems in the most efficient and effective way. This partnership is a model that will hopefully be replicated in other areas of the state.  

If you thought the "Holiday Season" meant the end of mosquito season...

You were right! Unless you are travelling outside of Wyoming this winter, which a lot of us are. 

Around February, most of us are getting cabin fever and have been sitting under our UV "happy lights" long enough. We are ready to feel warm sand between our toes and hear the lull of ocean waves crashing on the beach. Come February, it will be time for a southern migration.

Something you probably won't think about, as you are packing your swimsuit and snorkel gear, are... mosquitoes! The holiday season surely erased all memory of the previous mosquito season. But you must remember, as you head towards the equator, that mosquito season never ends in these warmer climates. There are mosquito-borne diseases south of us that have never tasted the crisp mountain air of Wyoming.

Aedes aegypti is a common vector of infectious disease in equatorial regions.  It also occurs in southern regions of the United States.

Serious diseases spread to humans by infected mosquitoes include Zika virus, West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus, dengue, and malaria. Some of these diseases are deadly, none of them are enjoyable, and all are preventable if adequate precautions are taken.

Before embarking on your southern migration, check the risk of vector-borne diseases in the area you plan to visit. Mosquitoes, with their syringe-like mouthparts, are well  known disease vectors. But other bloodsucking insects like ticks, flies, and fleas are also capable of spreading nasty diseases like leishmaniosis, Lyme disease and plague.

 

Do some internet research on the areas you will be traveling to, and find out what diseases are carried by the local mosquitoes and learn if there are any current disease outbreaks. The following websites are a good place to start your search:

Based on the map above, you may think any holiday travels within the United States are free of risk of such diseases. However, Zika and Chikungunya viruses are transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, both of which can be found in southern regions of the United States.

Fortunately for us, the cold and dry climate in Wyoming is inhospitable to the known vectors of almost all of the diseases mentioned above. Though it is possible that an Aedes mosquito carrying Zika or chikungunya could hijack a ride on a tourist and arrive in Wyoming via airplane, it is unlikely that it would survive our cool summer nights, and it definitely wouldn't survive winter. 

Culex tarsalis is a local mosquito that finds it quite comfortable in the intermountain west. This mosquito is also a vector for West Nile Virus (WNV) - a disease that first appeared in the eastern US in 1999 and subsequently swept across the country. This relatively innocuous mosquito was largely ignored before the spread of WNV, but now Culex tarsalis has the attention of all mosquito abatement professionals in the West. Teton County's Mosquito Abatement Program includes trapping and testing Culex tarsalis for WNV infection. It has been many years since we have had a positive test.

So, if you are planning winter travels to an exotic land with a high risk for vector-born disease, or if you are just going down to Florida for a break from the snow, the same precautions should be taken. TCWP would like to remind you of the "Four Ds" of mosquito avoidance:

 

TCWP wishes you a disease-free holiday season!

In November, Teton County Weed and Pest District staff attended the annual conference of the Wyoming Weed and Pest Council to discuss important weed and pest issues in the state. One of the critical discussions at this year's conference concerned new weed and pest species that should be added to the official lists of species that are considered "noxious" and worthy of control programs.

If a weed or pest species is on the official "State Designated List," then all counties in Wyoming are required to have an effective program for the management of that species. Since not all counties have problems with all the same weed and pest species, each county also has an official "County Declared List." This list includes additional species that are viewed as a threat to that county.

Invasive species do spread from the source of the invasion and they cross state and county lines without hesitation. Therefore, it is necessary to update these lists periodically so that new threats can be acknowledged and added to the appropriate lists. 

It is rare that a species is removed from the lists because it is practically impossible to remove all traces of an invasive species once it has taken root in a place. However, a species that has been successfully controlled, or has very few infestation locations, is treated with an Early Detection - Rapid Response (EDRR) approach. This approach, in layman's terms, means locate the small infestations as early as possible, and annihilate them before they spread or build a large seed bank. At TCWP we live by the mantra, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!"

This year, the following weed species will be added to the Teton County Declared Noxious Weed List, pending approval from the Wyoming Department of Agriculture:

Puncturevine, a newly declared noxious weed, is already present in 17 of Wyoming's counties. It has not yet been reported in Teton County.

Knotweed complex has been documented in at least two Wyoming counties, including a report of Himalayan knotweed in Teton County.

Moth mullein is an aggressive invader that has just recently been documented in Wyoming.

Yellow starthistle is one of the most invasive species in the inter-mountain west, and not a weed we want to become widespread in Wyoming.

Ventenata grass has been reported in Sheridan and Johnson Counties. Now that these invaders are on our radar, we will be able to prevent them from getting a good foothold in Teton County. Please do your part by notifying TCWP if you see any of these species in the county.

Every year, in lieu of a holiday party or intra-office gift exchange, Teton County Weed and Pest District employees choose a local organization to make a donation to.  In the past we have made Christmas donations to Soroptimist, the Angel Tree program, and directly to families in need by paying bills or providing gas cards.  This year, we will be partnering with Slow Food in the Tetons and The Jackson Cupboard to provide fresh, local produce to people in need.

 

Slow Food in the Tetons is a local chapter of the national nonprofit organization, Slow Food USA. Its mission is to increase people's access to fresh, local produce by publishing a local food guide, and hosting year-round farmer's markets, family cooking classes, and other events throughout the year.      

The Jackson Cupboard is a food bank that has been serving the Jackson community since 2001.  It is a non-political, non-religious organization that receives no government funding and operates off 100% private donation. Last year, 95% of all monetary donations were used to purchase food for the needy people in our community.  So far in 2017, over 5,000 people in need of food have visited The Jackson Cupboard. 

Rachel Daluge, wife of Assistant Supervisor Mark Daluge, is now The Cupboard's Operations Director.

 

This year, Rachel Daluge, wife of TCWP Assistant Supervisor Mark Daluge, was hired as The Cupboard's Operations Director.  Rachel and Mark made us all aware of the important service that The Cupboard provides for our community. The Cupboard's mission, "to provide essential, nutritious food for our community members in need," aligns well with the mission of Slow Food in the Tetons. TCWP strongly supports the efforts of both of these organizations and we are proud to give to a cause that provides fresh, local foods to families that need it the most. 

We as a district would also like to take this opportunity to promote The Cupboard's "Free Food Fridays." Every Friday from 10am-3pm, the public is invited to stop by The Cupboard and take home any perishable food items that have not yet found homes. Stock your refrigerator with food you will eat over the weekend, and prevent it from being wasted.

 

The Jackson Cupboard is located next to Browse n' Buy  on Cache Street.

 

Happy Holidays from all of us at TCWP!

January Board Meeting: Wednesday, January 17 @ 12pm

 

TCWP Strategic Planning Meeting: Tuesday and Wednesday, January 16-17 

Visit our Event Calendar on our website for more info.