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Grand Teton National Park & John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial ParkwayLeafy spurge is an exotic weed found in Grand Teton National Park
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Grand Teton National Park & John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway
Non-native Species
 
Thistle is a pernicious weed that is difficult to remove and crowds out native vegetation that animals depend on.

NPS Photo

Thistle is a pernicious weed that can crowd out native vegetation, leading to forage and habitat loss for wildlife in the park.

 

 

 

 

 

 



Grand Teton National Park is home to a large number of plant and animal species, unfortunately many of these species do not occur here naturally. Non-native species out-compete the native plants and animals for resources, which leads to a decrease in habitat for native species and biodiversity.

Park scientists fight noxious weeds with mechanical (hand or tool control), chemical, biological, and cultural controls. Biological controls involve using native predators of the weed (usually insects) to control its spread. Cultural controls include educating people about the dangers of noxious weeds and changing their behavior to avoid further weed spread. The park is also involved with local agencies, groups, and individuals to help control the spread of non-native weeds in the Jackson Hole valley. Visit http://www.jhwma.org for more information on this cooperative effort.

The park also hosts non-native aquatic species such as the New Zealand Mud Snail. Some varieties of non-native fish are found in many of the park's streams and lakes. The park is actively working to control the spread of all types of exotic species and are having some success, especially with a few of the plant species. These control efforts will be ongoing for many years.

three visitors at the snake river overlook
Trip Planning Guide
Resources for planning your trip to Grand Teton.
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Cars approaching Moose Entrance with Tetons in background
Road Information
Find out about road construction, closures and other information to help plan your visit.
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Beaver Dick Leigh and his family.  

Did You Know?
Did you know that Jenny and Leigh Lakes are named for the fur trapper “Beaver” Dick Leigh and his wife Jenny (not pictured)? Beaver Dick and Jenny assisted the Hayden party that explored the region in 1872. This couple impressed the explorers to the extent that they named the lakes in their honor.

Last Updated: July 25, 2006 at 00:23 EST