JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — We know what you’re going to say: “Dogs trained to sniff out weed is fairly commonplace, right?” Practically every police force has one or two or more.
Read carefully. What about dogs trained to sniff out weeds?
Following a successful launch in 2020, the Jackson Hole Weed Management Association (JHWMA), Teton County Weed and Pest (TCWP), and Working Dogs for Conservation (WD4C) are teaming up again to locate invasive species on the Snake River.
Saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) was first found on the Upper Snake River in 2001, leading to the beginnings of the Snake River Project in 2002. Saltcedar and perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) are both aggressive invaders of riparian areas. They grow in dense stands blocking access for wildlife and recreation and change soil nutrient loads creating ideal conditions for their growth while limiting the growth of other species. These changes to riparian areas impact the entire aquatic system by changing the amount of shade, food, and shelter available.
Through 18 years of the Snake River Project, an Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) program aimed at locating, removing, and eradicating saltcedar and perennial pepperweed, human teams have found 107 saltcedar and 532 perennial pepperweed locations. These teams continue to find 1 or 2 saltcedar plants and nearly a dozen perennial pepperweed plants each year indicating that there is a seed source that is being missed by human teams.
WD4C has a long track record of being able find things that humans alone cannot. In 2020, WD4C scent trained three canine teams and found an additional 12 perennial pepperweed locations on the Snake River between Moose and Wilson, roughly 30% more than human teams. The dogs will be joining Weed & Pest again this year to continue searching for these species and will spend six days scouring the islands between Wilson and South Park.
Canine teams will be on the islands on the river Monday, August 23 through Wednesday, September 1.
Find out more about Working Dogs for Conservation and the Snake River Project by joining TCWP and WD4C at the Wilson Boat Ramp on Sunday, August 22 from 10am to 2pm.
