Wyoming Expands Aerial Cheatgrass Treatments Across Six Counties

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department and its partners will continue aerial herbicide treatments targeting cheatgrass across portions of six counties, part of a broader effort to improve wildlife habitat and reduce wildfire risks.

Treatments are scheduled from mid-August through mid-September in Albany, Carbon, Lincoln, Natrona, Platte and Sweetwater counties. Another round of applications is planned for April and May 2027.

Game and Fish is coordinating the project with federal land agencies, county weed and pest control districts and private landowners. Treatments will take place on public lands, state trust lands and privately owned property.

Fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters will apply herbicide to areas where cheatgrass has become established. Depending on weather and aircraft availability, work within each treatment area is expected to take two to four weeks.

Areas scheduled for treatment include:

• The Laramie Peak Wildlife Habitat Management Area and Sybille Canyon area in Albany and Platte counties, including the Tom Thorne and Beth Williams WHMA and landscapes affected by recent wildfires
• The Ferris-Seminoe Mountains, Pedro Mountains, Chalk Mountain, Dry Creek Rim, Bear Creek, Canyon Creek, Pennock WHMA, Grizzly WHMA and areas west of Baggs in Carbon County
• The southern Wyoming Range in Lincoln County
• Bear Mountain and Bates Hole in Natrona County
• The Greater Little Mountain area and lands north of Superior in Sweetwater County

The Lincoln County work is being conducted in partnership with the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Other participating organizations include the Bureau of Land Management and weed and pest control districts in each affected county.

Cheatgrass is an invasive annual grass that can spread rapidly across landscapes disturbed by drought, wildfire and other soil disruption. It competes with native grasses, forbs and shrubs that provide food and cover for wildlife.

The plant also dries early in the growing season, leaving behind fine fuels that can help wildfires ignite and spread more rapidly. More frequent fires can damage sagebrush and other slow-growing native plant communities, potentially affecting habitat used by mule deer, pronghorn, bighorn sheep and elk for decades.

Hunters, hikers, anglers and other visitors may see or hear aircraft operating at low elevations near treatment sites. Game and Fish is asking the public to avoid areas while spraying is underway. Temporary closures or delays are generally expected to last only a few hours as aircraft move between treatment locations.

People planning to visit wildlife habitat management areas should check the Game and Fish website for current closures.

Wildlife officials also encourage recreationists to clean seeds from boots, clothing, equipment, pets and vehicles before leaving an area. Visitors should remain on designated roads and trails and use certified weed-free forage when traveling with pack animals.

The projects are supported by federal, state, local and private funding sources, including the Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming Wildlife Natural Resource Trust, wildlife conservation organizations, local weed and pest districts and several Game and Fish programs.

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