News  Agriculture  Sustainability

Hungry cows are helping Utah clear an invasive plant from the Great Salt Lake

Phragmites, an invasive plant, is taking over Utah’s Salt Lake wetlands, stealing critical water supplies and choking out native habitats.

July 19, 2024 12:16 PM

Cattle ranchers near Utah’s Great Salt Lake are collaborating with their herds to assist in cleaning up an invasive plant.

Phragmites are an invasive plant that has taken over Utah’s Salt Lake wetlands. They take critical water supplies and choke out native habitats.

The Nature Conservancy recently recruited hungry cows to eat the phragmites down.

Leaders there say that it is difficult to control and can even be a fire hazard. They teamed up with Utah State University to put collars on the cows for invisible fences, allowing them to select which areas to clear. They say that the cows appear to be enjoying their job.

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