Volunteers in Jackson, Wyoming, are working together to remove thousands of invasive plants from local landscapes and popular recreation spots. The effort, led by the Teton Conservation District and Teton County Weed and Pest, aims to prevent the spread of non-native plant species and protect native wildlife and pollinators.

Protecting Native Plants

Morgan Graham, a GIS and Wildlife Habitat Specialist with the Teton Conservation District, explained that invasive plants like musk thistle, houndstongue, and spotted knapweed can spread quickly and monopolize resources, harming native plants and the wildlife that depend on them. Graham leads a volunteer group on Thursdays in Game Creek to remove musk thistle from the environment.

The Habitat Heroes program, organized by Teton County Weed and Pest, works to prevent the spread of invasive species through hand-removal of invasive vegetation. The program has removed thousands of invasive plants and pounds of seed from local areas, including 115,436 musk thistle plants and 1,551 pounds of seed in 2025.

Community Involvement

Meta Dittmer, the Education Program Coordinator for Teton County Weed and Pest, runs the Habitat Heroes events and focuses on changing locations and finding spots where people recreate regularly or care deeply about. Dittmer said the goal of the program is to educate people and get them involved in stewardship, and to create a sense of community in the outdoors with a shared goal of protecting the environment.

Original reporting: Buckrail (Jackson WY) — read the source article.