CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Oct. 23, 2026 – Wyoming State Parks, in partnership with the Wyoming Department of Agriculture’s Weed and Pest Council, engaged visitors across the state through the 2026 War on Weeds initiative, focused on invasive species education, identification, and removal in Wyoming’s state parks and historic sites.

Throughout the summer and early fall, Wyoming State Parks hosted 70 interpretive opportunities and 8 weed pulls, engaging park visitors statewide. Visitors also submitted reports of potential invasive species through the War on Weeds reporting survey, helping document areas of concern for future mitigation efforts.

Invasive species are non-native plants that can cause significant environmental and economic harm. They compete with native grasses and other vegetation, disrupt ecosystems, and can affect wildlife habitat and the landscapes Wyoming State Parks works to protect.

The War on Weeds gave park visitors several ways to get involved. While hiking, camping, or otherwise enjoying state parks, visitors could use identification guides to look for invasive species and report potential sightings through a simple online survey. Participating parks also offered interpretive programs where visitors could learn about invasive species and ways to prevent their spread, along with volunteer weed pulls that let them help remove priority species.

“The War on Weeds gave our visitors a chance to be part of the work our staff and partners are doing to manage invasive species across Wyoming State Parks,” said Christina Bird, district manager of Wyoming State Parks. “From learning what to look for and reporting a potential sighting to getting their hands dirty at a weed pull, every level of participation helps build awareness and supports our efforts to protect these landscapes.”

The initiative was conducted in partnership with the Wyoming Department of Agriculture’s Weed and Pest Council, which provided the reporting survey used throughout the season. Wyoming State Parks and the Weed and Pest Council will use the survey data to document areas of concern and inform future mitigation efforts.

As a thank-you for their contributions, volunteers who participated in the War on Weeds invasive species removal events were eligible to enter a drawing for one of five YETI coolers. 

While the 2026 War on Weeds initiative has concluded, invasive species management remains an ongoing effort in Wyoming State Parks. Visitors can help protect Wyoming’s natural landscapes by learning to identify invasive species, reporting areas of concern, recreating responsibly, and taking steps to prevent invasive plants from spreading from one area to another.

Learn more about invasive species at WyoWeed.org. For more information about Wyoming State Parks, visit WyoParks.Wyo.Gov.

Figure 1: Volunteers help fight invasive species during a War on Weeds volunteer weed pull at Sinks Canyon State Park. Figure 2: Visitors learn about invasive species during an interpretive program at Curt Gowdy State Park.