Noxious weeds threaten Twin Falls County amid drought conditions

Hinzugefügt: 2026-05-17

[00:00:01]Amid a statewide drought, experts are saying noxious weeds could have a field day this summer. I'm your Twin Falls neighborhood reporter Joey Martin talking with Twin Falls County to find out what weeds they're keeping an eye out for as ideal conditions for droughtresistant noxious weeds peaks.

[00:00:17]>> They can handle the drought. They they will outco compete all native vegetation and they are going to wreak havoc this year. According to TwinFs County Parks and Waterways Director Cali Cheryl, the state of Idaho has 74 noxious weeds on its watch list and most have the potential to thrive in summer conditions >> on not only um on people's lawns in pastures, rangeand, forest areas, and our agriculture especially >> here in Twin Falls County. One of the biggest threats is the poisonous halogetin plant.

[00:00:47]>> And halageton is not an issue as long as we have plenty of moisture and we're not in a drought. But in these years that we are in a drought or we have very mild winters, it is extremely toxic to animals.

[00:01:01]>> The county says the H hallogen will have more of a rangeand impact. Closer to town down at Centennial Park, other noxious weeds are lingering that you need to keep an eye out for, especially if you plan on some fishing or kaying.

[00:01:14]>> Most common in this area is going to be hounds tongue and uh poison hemlock.

[00:01:19]Especially poison hemlock has fern-like leaves and then it has big white flowers on it and they kind of sit upright and then the flower sits on top. As far as hounds tongue goes, it is um the leaves are big and almost like like a hound's tongue.

[00:01:36]>> Both plants are fatal if ingested and can cause serious skin irritation. And while those have been around for a while, a relatively new noxious weed is keeping the county busy. The yellow flag iris. You'll see it growing along the canal throughout most of Twin Falls County and even down in the park here.

[00:01:54]I'm seeing a couple of brand new areas that we have it.

[00:01:57]>> While beautiful, the little yellow flower can pack a punch.

[00:02:01]>> Yellow flag iris is also a poisonous plant that will uh can hurt the animals, make them sick, but as far as humans go, it can cause skin rashes. If you have any questions about noxious weeds on your property, contact your local county weed control office. Reporting in Twin Falls, I'm your neighborhood reporter, Joey Martin, Idaho News Six.