Double whammy weed pull in Crowsnest Pass

Double whammy weed pull
Nature Conservancy of Canada photos

Nature Conservancy of Canada

Three local groups converged in the Crowsnest Pass over the weekend to join together in the fight against noxious invasive species such as blueweed, hounds-tongue, common mullein and oxeye daisy. Invasive species, (a.k.a weeds) are a growing problem for the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass and the Crowsnest Pass Conservation Society. Much like native grasses and plants, these invasive species flourish in the sunshine and warmth that summer brings. Kailey Setter from the Nature Conservancy of Canada says weeds left unchecked can cause havoc on the native ecosystems of the Crowsnest Pass.

“When it comes to the battle against invasive species, the Crowsnest Pass is right on the front lines. The invasive seeds are transported down local roadways, railways and waterways. Early detection and rapid response is key in getting ahead of them and protecting iconic natural habitats.”

This is why the three groups decided to it was time to take action into their own hands. On Saturday July 26th, 22 volunteers including representatives from the three groups worked hard to evict the weeds that had definitely out grown their welcome.

 

The day started off the day with a training session led by the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass. The volunteers learned how to identify the targeted noxious weeds, and the group also talked about the best techniques for pulling the various weeds. Ashley Hynes, Weed Inspector with the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass, explains some of the things volunteers learned.

 

“Repetition is key with weeds. Wherever you can, you want to get to these plants before their root systems can establish and they disperse their seeds. Hand-pulling is a great way to prevent their spread, but timing is everything and you want to get as much of the root system as you can.”

The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass organized the morning efforts to get rid of weeds along Nez Perce Creek and the Crowsnest River in Coleman. Over the course of the morning the group had a huge positive impact, removing 48 large bags of invasive species from the site. Pulling weeds on public land will help to beautify these green spaces, and it will also help to reduce the spread of weeds onto private land.

After lunch, the group travelled to private conservation lands owned by the Nature Conservancy of Canada near Leitch Collieries Historical Site. The invasive species battle continued with gusto, with another 15 bags of weeds being removed by the group - bringing the grand total up to 61 bags for the day. Many of the volunteers taking part were local residents, but some came from as far away as Lethbridge and Calgary to lend a hand.

The weed pull effort was a huge success, and a collaborative step towards reducing the foothold of invasive species in the Crowsnest Pass.

“By joining forces with other organizations and community members, we were able to cover more ground and increase our impact. The battle against invasive species isn’t one we can win by working alone, but it is something we can improve by working together.” says Natalie Morrision, Weed Inspector with the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass.

. “These collaborative community initiatives also offer wonderful learning opportunities.” states Kailey Setter. “Knowing which species are invasive, and how to best tackle them is half the battle. Once you’ve picked up a few tips, it’s easy to take those skills home and apply them in your backyard.”

Each of the three groups (Nature Conservancy of Canada, the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass and the Crowsnest Pass Conservation Society) will hold be offering community members the opportunity to help out by holding more weed pull events throughout the summer.