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Houndstongue is a well-known noxious weed here in the Seeley, Swan and Blackfoot region. As a member of the Borage family, it contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that make it toxic for livestock to ingest. We often find the seeds before we find the plants themselves, as the seeds are known for their Velcro like characteristics that easily attach to our pants and pets. Houndstongue can grow in a variety of habitats and is very successful at spreading. This noxious weed is a biannual plant, meaning...
A new annual invasive grass is on the horizon, literally. Just down the highway from the town of Seeley Lake, Ventenata dubia is taking hold along our roadways. Though Ventenata is newly arriving in our corner of the county, it is increasingly becoming widespread in the state of Montana. New populations are being identified every summer and current populations seem to be moving/growing at a rapid pace. Land managers around the West are reporting this invasive grass to be more challenging to...
Getting a start on managing the vegetation on your property can be challenging and expensive. Missoula County Weed District's Grant Programs were established to help guide landowners through the planning process as well as offset some of the cost associated with improving the vegetation on one's property. The Landowner Grant Program was established in 2002, since the program's inception Missoula County Weed District has assisted hundreds of landowners in Missoula County at decreasing the...
Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is an invasive grass that is widespread in Missoula County. This grass is a winter annual, meaning the seeds germinate in the fall and the plant overwinters, taking advantage of late fall and early spring moisture at a time when most of our native plants are dormant. This growth characteristic of cheatgrass gives it a competitive advantage over many of our native species and can be particularly problematic when trying to reseed disturbed areas. Cheatgrass also is an...
