10/30/06 Hunters will find lots of noxious weeds

The haunting sound of elk in the Idaho backcountry. Some hunters will find an elk but most hunters are almost certain to find noxious weeds. Weed Awareness Campaign coordinator Roger Batt says hunters, sportsmen, hikers, anyone recreating in Idaho can take steps to keep from spreading weeds to new areas. BATT "Make sure you don't walk through weed infested areas or take your ATV's through weed infested areas. That can only track weed seed further into an area. Also cleaning your ATV before leaving a wildlife area and entering a new area. Cleaning you hiking boots, your dogs, carrying certified weed free forage and straw for your pack animals is certainly a good way to eliminate the spread of noxious weeds." Noxious weeds such as yellow star thistle, spotted knapweed, rush skeletonweed and leafy spurge can devastate wildlife habitat. In Idaho, its believed that about 14 percent of the land - approximately 12,000 square miles - has been taken over by noxious weeds, causing more than $300 million in direct damages to the state`s economy, agriculture and wildlife lands. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott