Exotic and Invasive Species

You Can Help Stop the Spread!

An “invasive species” is defined by Executive Order 13112 as a species that is:

• Non-native to the ecosystem under consideration; and
• Whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.

On the Black Hills National Forest we are actively managing several invasive plant species that have invaded 100,000’s of acres. We’re managing these invasive plant species because they can alter ecosystems by displacing native plants, causing undesirable irreversible changes such as a loss of biodiversity, degradation of habitat, increased soil erosion, and degraded water quality.

While we are concerned about all invasive plants on the Black Hills National Forest, we’ve identified six species as priority for treatment:  

• common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)
• leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula)
• oxeye daisy (Chrysanthemum leucantheman)
• St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum)
• spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa)
• yellow toadflax (Linaria vulgaris)

You can help! Every activity that occurs on the Black Hills National Forest has the potential to contribute to the establishment and spread of invasive plants. Ground-disturbing activities create seedbeds for invasive plants by exposing mineral soil; while activities not generally thought of as ground-disturbing act as vectors to transport and spread invasive plant seed or plant parts. Here are a few ways you can help us manage invasive plant populations on the Black Hills National Forest: 

• Learn about the invasive plant species of the area. Check out the Invasive Plants on the Black Hills National Forest, Species Accounts
• Don’t inadvertently help them spread
  • Inspect and clean plant parts and seeds from your recreational vehicles, your boots and clothing, and even your pets!
  • Don’t pick and transport plants you can’t identify
  • Don’t camp in infested areas
  • Drive only on established roads and trails
• Let us know where they are. We’ve partnered with Wild Spotter to give the public a way to notify us when they encounter invasive plants.