Joining the Weekday Wake-up on July 15, Travis Osmond said spotted knapweed has become a major concern in the north end of the county.

“It’s just crazy, crazy invasive,” Osmond said. “There is so much spotted knapweed up there this year, it’s ridiculous.”

Participants can bring in pulled plants from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day to the Alpine Town Hall and will be paid $1 per pound. The program is open to all ages.

“Everybody and anybody, if you’ve got a heartbeat, I need you out there picking spotted knapweed,” Osmond said.

RELATED: TRAVIS OSMOND WITH THE LINCOLN COUNTY WEED & PEST DESCRIBES THE SPOTTED KNAPWEED PROGRAM –

The plant poses a threat to both land and livestock. Osmond said it is toxic and difficult to manage once established.

“Horses can’t eat it, cows can’t eat it,” he said. “Just very difficult to control.”

He added that mowing is ineffective. “What it does is it just completes its life cycle at two to three inches tall,” he said.

Instead, Osmond recommends removing the plant at its base. “Just take your shovel and pop it right below the soil surface,” he said. “You have to get that crown… to stop the plant.”

Each plant can produce up to 9,000 seeds, making early removal critical.

“That’s 9,000 plants that your kids and grandkids aren’t going to have to worry about,” he said.

Osmond encouraged residents to learn how to identify spotted knapweed, which features a light green-gray color and purple flowers with black-spotted bracts.

The effort is funded through a grant and follows the success of the county’s Dyer’s woad program.

“This year we’ve picked almost 67,000 pounds,” Osmond said. “Now we’re giving people in Alpine, Etna and Thayne a chance to come in and make some money.”

Weed and Pest will provide clear bags, and participants will be paid on-site. Osmond emphasized honesty in the process.

“Let’s keep it fair,” he said. “We’re paying you a dollar a pound.”

He stressed that community involvement is essential.

“There’s no way I can win this battle by myself,” Osmond said. “It has to come from the community.”

Residents are encouraged to participate during the three-day event and help protect the valley.

“Get out there, pick it… and help the community and our environment,” he said.

For questions or more information, reach out to the Lincoln County Weed and Pest at (307) 885-9333.