Invasive plant species commonly found in eastern Montana now detected in Bitterroot

A spikey, invasive plant species was identified in Hamilton earlier this month.

The Ravalli County Weed District alerted the public last week about the presence of an invasive plant in the Bitterroot Valley. The species known as puncturevine was found on Pine Street in Hamilton, according to a City of Hamilton Facebook post .

The non-native species discards small spiny thorns, sometimes referred to as goat heads, that spread their seed and can pop tires as well as injure livestock and people. Bobbi Jo Noakes from the Ravalli County Weed District said that the plant had also been identified in Victor and could have been in the valley longer than originally suspected.

“According to reports we got from our Facebook post, it has been here for a couple years,” Noakes told the Ravalli Rep