Beartooth/Cooke City, Montana: A Featured Weed Management Area (WMA)

Oxeye daisy can be controlled within 5 years

Dr. Sabine Mellmann-Brown has coordinated management efforts for this 150,000 acre WMA. Goals have included: mapping the area; reducing and eradicating musk thistle, tansy, hounds tongue, and knapweed; as well as managing oxeye daisy.

The biggest challenge was associated with dealing with weeds near homes. Home owners tried various treatments from burning to digging. Black henbane, musk thistle, wooly mullein, spotted knapweed, yellow toadflax and hounds tongue are still controllable in this WMA. Some 365 landowners were contacted via postcards. Thirty-nine percent of the cards were returned with a majority approving treatment. The July work day included spraying and pulling methods. A community presentation was given by Kent Houston. Sabine sold native plants as replacement species. An emphasis on replacing the weeds with suitable native plants was provided. An effort was demonstrated at a church where oxeye daisy and bachelor button were replaced with native plants.

The mapping efforts were completed with GPS units. They verified the majority of weed problems occur from the private property below Silvergate to the upper side of Cooke City. The New World Mine in the area has developed a weed management plan within this area.

Lessons learned include:

1. Dealing with landowners takes time, especially absentee owners.
2. Within 5 years, Oxeye daisy can be controlled.
3. New weeds are introduced by gardeners and construction disturbances.
4. A local coordinator who knows people and boundaries is vital.
5. Education is everything. The public wants to help.

Sabine's success story continues. She wants to continue educating and supporting individual landowners. She needs more certified applicators to supervise work.

For more information: Dr. Sabine Mellmann-Brown, 406.838.2305.