CHEYENNE, Wyo. (April 14, 2026) – Following the devastating fire season of 2024, invasive annual grass (IAG) control became a priority throughout Wyoming to protect what grazing and wildlife forage remained, and to help native species reestablish inside the fire scar.
Cheatgrass, ventanata and medusahead are IAGs that compete with native vegetation and can become dominant on the landscape. They hold little and short-term forage value for livestock and wildlife. If present before a fire, they provide a large fine fuel base that helps carry the fire. Subsequently, because they are annuals, they can respond and reinvade quickly after fire, before the native plants get a chance to recover.
It is estimated that Wyoming is infested with more than 15.4 million acres of cheatgrass.
“Being proactive and treating IAGs before they burn can help prevent catastrophic fires in Wyoming,” said Garrett Falkenburg, president of the Wyoming Weed and Pest Council (WWPC). As we race this invasion across the state, we often need to treat pre- and post-fire to save the good vegetation from further invasion. The WWPC and Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust (WWNRT) work together to develop management plans for both scenarios. It’s an ongoing battle of cat and mouse.”
In 2025, Wyoming Weed and Pest Districts partnered with WWNRT to treat hundreds of thousands of acres of IAGs. The effort, which was undertaken by Governor Mark Gordon, delivered nearly $50 million in legislatively allocated funds for on-the-ground projects to prevent the spread of IAGs while restoring resilient grass and rangelands.
The treatments utilized the herbicide Rejuvra (indaziflam) produced by Envu Environmental Sciences. Rejuvra is effective against IAGs by killing new plants as they germinate, while leaving perennial native species undamaged. In many cases, following Rejuvra application, native species resurge because there is less competition for resources. This has been a game-changer for IAG control statewide.
“Envu has been an important stewardship and research partner to the state of Wyoming,” said Bob Budd, executive director, Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust (WWNRT). “Envu is investing in the landscape of Wyoming, as we invest in ourselves.”
To help promote IAG control, Envu rebated WWNRT and WWPC $1,099,534 of Rejuvra purchases for 2025 projects. This rebate will allow for additional IAG control in Wyoming to be distributed by WWNRT. This money can help treat nearly 17,000 acres of Invasive annual grasses.
About the Wyoming Weed & Pest Council
Wyoming Weed and Pest Council (WWPC) is comprised of 23 Weed & Pest Districts in the state of Wyoming. The Council works closely with the Wyoming Department of Agriculture and the University of Wyoming to keep current with the latest technology and research available in the ongoing management of noxious weeds and pests. The overall mission is to provide unified support and leadership for the integrated management of noxious weeds and pests to protect economic and ecological resources in the state.
For more information about WWPC, visit wyoweed.org
