Knapweeds are a type of noxious weed that has had a devastating impact in Arapahoe County. They’ve taken over native areas, and they threaten the other plants in the area. It’s up to landowners
to take action to prevent the growth.
However, not everyone is acting on the knapweeds. Part of this is due to not understanding the full impact of the weeds in the area. Once you get to see how they affect plants and wildlife locally, it’s likely that you’ll realize just how much work needs to be done.
Thousands of Dollars Lost to Knapweeds
Landowners are losing thousands of dollars when it comes to controlling the weeds. If they don’t spend that money, they lose crop yields, which will have a direct effect on consumers and the price of groceries. This will also cause them to lose their livelihoods.
The cost of controlling the weeds is high. Then there’s the supplement feed needed to help with crop growth because the weeds have caused a decreased forage production.
These extra costs are passed onto consumers. After all, the farmers and landowners need to make up for it in some way. Inflation is already causing higher costs, but imagine the extra costs of knapweed control on top of that.
Wildlife Affected by Knapweeds
Small animals are also directly affected by the growth of the weeds. The weeds lead to other foliage being affected negatively. The areas where the small animals life decrease, and there’s already a problem due to removal of land for housing. Small animals don’t have the protection they need from predators.
At the same time, they lose out on food sources. They need the desirable plants to give them nuts and berries to survive on. Without them, they start to die out and we end up with an extinction problem. This will have a knock-on effect on the larger predators who need the small animals to survive.
Many small creatures are now on the list of endangered animals. The Meadow Jumping Mouse is one of them, which has been directly affected by knapweeds in the area.
Larger Animals Affected by Grazing Areas Lost
It’s not just small animals that are affected. The larger grazing animals are also ending up in danger because of the growth of noxious weeds. Knapweeds are causing problems for deer and elk, who don’t like to graze on adult knapweed plants. They then head to other areas, which is causing problems within those areas and for the deer and elk in those parts of town.
At the same time, grazing animals could help to keep some weeds under control. By losing them to other areas because of knapweeds, the areas won’t see the growth of other foliage.
The situation is becoming a problem. The best thing to do is control knapweeds to make sure plants and wildlife are protected and preserved.
