Cheyenne, Wyoming — Following the devastating 2024 fire season, invasive annual grass control has become a priority in Wyoming to protect remaining grasslands and wildlife forage and promote the recovery of native species in fire-damaged areas.
Wild oats, feather grass, and wild wheat are invasive weeds that compete with native vegetation and can become dominant. They are of little use as forage for livestock and wildlife, providing food only for a short period. If present before a fire, they produce large quantities of fine, flammable material, facilitating the spread of fire. Furthermore, as annual plants, they quickly recover after a fire and take over from native plants, preventing them from recovering in time.
”Taking proactive measures to control invasive species before they start burning helps prevent catastrophic fires in Wyoming,” said Garrett Fockenberg, chairman of the Wyoming Weed and Pest Commission. “As this invasive species spreads across the state, we typically need to control it before and after fires to protect beneficial vegetation from further spread. The Wyoming Weed and Pest Commission is collaborating with the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust to develop management plans for both scenarios. It’s a constant game of cat and mouse.”
In 2025, the Wyoming Weed and Pest Management Agency, in partnership with WWNRT, began combating invasive grasses on hundreds of thousands of acres. Launched by Governor Mark Gordon, this initiative allocated nearly $50 million in legislative funds for field projects to prevent the spread of invasive grasses and restore sustainable meadows and pastures.
These treatments used the herbicide Rejuvra (indoxacarb), manufactured by Envu Environmental Sciences. Rejuvra is effective against invasive gray-green weeds because it kills newly established plants without harming native perennial species. In many cases, after Rejuvra application, native species were able to recover due to reduced competition for resources. This has revolutionized the control of invasive gray-green weeds across the state.
”Envu is a vital management and research partner for Wyoming,” said Bob Budd, executive director of the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust. “Envu invests in Wyoming’s natural landscape just as we invest in ourselves.”
To facilitate the control of invasive annual grasses, Envu has reimbursed the Wyoming Natural Resources Conservation Society (WWNRT) and the Wyoming Natural Resources Conservation Commission (WWPC) $1,099,534 for the purchase of Rejuvra, which will be used for projects in 2025. This reimbursement will allow the WWNRT to conduct more invasive annual grass control activities in Wyoming. These funds can be used to control invasive annual grasses on nearly 17,000 acres.
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Post time: Apr-21-2026