Bozeman, MT, July 3, 2024— The Bozeman Ranger District will treat non-native noxious weeds on the trail systems at both the M and Drinking Horse Mountain areas from July 10th -12th. The trails will be open during weed treatments, but the public may encounter personnel using backpack sprayers as well as an ATV on the trails.
“Although the Forest Service and our partners have targeted weeds at these popular trails, noxious weeds continue to be problematic here,” said Implementation Coordinator Melanie Cota. “These herbicide treatments will help us better control the spread of invasive species onto National Forest System Lands. We recognize this could be a temporary inconvenience during the timeframe of the application, but the trails will remain open, and we will be on site to answer questions. We welcome you to visit with us to learn about the importance of controlling invasive weeds, and how we can all help play a role.”
The natural vegetation communities in this area are being threatened by non-native noxious weeds. Noxious weeds out-compete native species and have the potential to displace native plants, which decreases wildlife habitat, increases soil erosion, and affects recreational values. While there are numerous noxious weed species in the project area, the dominant weed is leafy spurge.
The herbicides being used are low risk to people and animals, but the Forest Service recommends the public stay on the trails and keep dogs on a leash while workers are in the area spraying, so as not to disrupt workers and avoid treatment areas. This project is part of a larger weed treatment plan created by a group of partners including the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Gallatin Valley Land Trust, and Montana State University. Representatives from the Bozeman Ranger District and the Gallatin Valley Land Trust will be on site to help answer any questions from the public.
For more information, please call the Bozeman Ranger District at 406-522-2520.
###
The post Noxious Weed Treatments at M and Drinking Horse Mountain Trails first appeared on Montana Outdoor.Hunt in Montana | Montana Hunting and Fishing
