Johnson County Expands Incentive Program to Combat Invasive Weeds

In Johnson County, anyone can take part in the ongoing effort to remove invasive plant species—and get paid for it, Cowboy State Daily reports.

The county’s Weed Bounty Program, which began in 2018, rewards individuals who help identify and uproot certain invasive weeds threatening local ecosystems.

Participants can earn cash by either pulling weeds themselves or reporting new infestations. The program offers $1 per pound for common invasives like spotted knapweed, houndstongue, and mullein, while harder-to-find species such as oxeye daisy and orange hawkweed fetch $1.25 per pound. Additionally, a $50 reward is available for reporting new sightings of aggressive grasses such as ventenata, cheatgrass, or medusahead.

This year’s program launched with a community weeding day at Lake De Smet, where volunteers collected 2,000 pounds of invasive plants. Allen Buff, district supervisor for Johnson County Weed and Pest, said the event marks an annual kickoff that brings people together while raising awareness about harmful species.

“It’s one day where we get people together for a couple of hours to pull weeds in a collaborative effort,” Buff said, adding that the initiative has grown each year and now involves a range of cooperating organizations—from local conservation districts to federal agencies and private companies.

The origins of the bounty program stem from concerns over using herbicides in sensitive riparian zones. To avoid potential water contamination, the county and its partners encouraged manual weed removal as a safer alternative. That strategy has since evolved into a full-fledged community initiative, with payouts continuing until the end of July or until plants begin to go to seed.

Christina Schmidt, a spokesperson for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, emphasized the broader impact of such efforts, noting that healthy rangelands are critical for both wildlife and livestock.

“Keeping invasive plants out and treating them where they are found prevents their spread, so programs like this are very impactful,” she said.

While not every weed qualifies for the bounty, the focus remains on the most damaging species. These plants, often non-native, can rapidly take over native habitats and diminish the quality of forage for animals. Buff noted that some, like ventenata, are particularly concerning due to their ability to spread quickly and their low nutritional value for livestock.

In 2024, the county paid out for 32,000 pounds of noxious weeds. One young participant alone reportedly removed 10,000 pounds. Buff said the program operates until the weeds begin to seed, after which pulling them may risk spreading the plants further.

This year’s effort is especially important as native and invasive plants begin to regrow in areas burned by the Elk Fire in the Bighorn Mountains last fall. Officials hope the bounty program will help manage what grows back and prevent invasives from gaining a foothold.

Residents are encouraged to familiarize themselves with invasive species and report any sightings—even if there is no immediate reward.

As Schmidt put it, “If you spend time outdoors, please be familiar with them, keep an eye out for them, and report what you find.”