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Weed & Pest Control

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Weed Control 
County of Barrhead works hard to deliver a sustainable weed control program that enhances effectiveness and efficiency of weed control in the County. The County uses an approved residual herbicide to achieve best results with minimal environmental impact, while following all Regulations.
 
Our weed control program covers all County-owned properties and Right-of-Ways, while maintaining spot spraying throughout the County as needed. As indicated on the map below, County of Barrhead focuses weed control efforts as follows:
  • Year 1: blanket Area 1, spot spray Areas 2 & 3
  • Year 2: blanket Area 2, spot spray Areas 1 & 3
  • Year 3: blanket Area 3, spot spray Areas 1 & 2
In 2025, we will begin spraying Area 1 in early June, and continue to work throughout the summer within the County. Weed inspectors will also be out during this time inspecting all areas within the County for Noxious and Prohibited Noxious weeds under legislated authority of the Alberta Weed Control Act.
 
Pest Control
Agricultural Services work with landowners to control pests like coyotes and pocket gophers, in accordance with provincial legislation. Magpie, skunk, fox and weasel traps are available to rent for a small fee.
 
Ag services also assists with beaver control, but only for problem beavers that are affecting agricultural lands. This usually involves flooded crop land, such as hay, pasture, cereals and grains. Please note there may be a charge for beaver mitigation services, traps, and controls.

Any weed or pest control questions can be directed to the Agricultural Fieldman at 780-674-3331.
 
Weed of the Week
Every week this spring & summer, we'll be highlighting a different noxious or prohibited noxious weed! Keep an eye out for these aggressive invaders:

Baby’s Breath

While this noxious weed may be common in bouquets & flower arrangements, it is highly invasive! In winter, stems break off and tumble with the wind, spreading thousands of seeds.

🔍 WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Many skinny stems that grow up to 1m tall and form a highly branched crown at the top. Leaves are smooth & narrow. May small white flowers.

⚠️ PREVENTION: Simply don’t grow it! Baby’s breath is commonly found in bouquets, arrangements, or sold in mixed wildflower seed. Make sure to safely dispose of fresh or dried flower arrangements that include baby’s breath!

💥 RESPONSE: Noxious weeds MUST be controlled! If you see this weed, help protect the County by reporting the sighting. Call the County’s Weed Inspector at 780-674-3331.

🌿 Learn more about baby’s breath:

https://abinvasives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/N_FS-Babys-Breath.pdf

Canada Thistle

This noxious weed is an aggressive perennial that spreads quickly through its creeping root system. Infestations can heavily impact wildlife habitat & nesting waterfowl. Despite its name, Canada Thistle is NOT native to Canada!

🔍 WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Can grow up to 1.5m tall. Leaves are irregularly lobed with sharp spines. Urn-shaped flowers are pink, purple, or white, and can grow in singles or clusters.

⚠️ PREVENTION: Best prevention is to maintain healthy plant cover and reseed disturbed areas quickly. Established plants can only be controlled by killing the roots, as they will regrow if grazed or mowed.

💥 RESPONSE: Noxious weeds MUST be controlled! If you see this weed, help protect the County by reporting the sighting. Call the County’s Weed Inspector at 780-674-3331.

🌿 Learn more about Canada Thistle:

https://abinvasives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/FS-CanadaThistle-2023.pdf

Clubroot

While not a noxious weed, Clubroot can cause serious problems for producers. Clubroot is a soil-borne disease that causes large galls to form on roots of Brassicae (canola, cabbage, radish, etc.). Its highly infectious spores are easily spread, and infections result in dramatically stunted growth.

🔍 WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Large, club-shaped galls on the roots of host plants. Galls are initially firm & whitish, but become soft, spongy & brown as they mature.

⚠️ PREVENTION: Clubroot spores can easily be spread from infected soil, particularly from machinery like cultivators. Strict sanitation procedures help limit the spread of spores. Producers can also look into clubroot-resistant brassicae varieties, which can help lower the disease threshold for their fields. 

💥 RESPONSE: Clubroot MUST be controlled! If you see this disease, help protect the County by reporting the sighting. Call the County of Barrhead at 780-674-3331.

🌿 Learn more about clubroot:

https://abinvasives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/AP_FS-Clubroot.pdf

Common Mullein

This noxious weed can easily overtake & displace native species. A single plant can produce over 240,000 seeds, which can remain viable in soil for more than 100 years!

🔍 WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Stems & leaves are densely woolly-hairy or felt-like. Bright yellow flowers are produced in a spike-like structure, which mature from top to bottom. 

⚠️ PREVENTION: Best prevention is to maintain healthy plant cover and reseed disturbed areas quickly. Can often be found along roadsides, rights-of-way, or construction sites.

💥 RESPONSE: Noxious weeds MUST be controlled! If you see this weed, help protect the County by reporting the sighting. Call the County’s Weed Inspector at 780-674-3331.

🌿 Learn more about common mullein:

https://abinvasives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/N_FS-CommonMullein.pdf

Common Tansy

This noxious weed produces very large numbers of seeds. It can form dense stands and can be toxic to humans & livestock if consumed in large quantities

🔍 WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Upright, branched stems with many stems per plant. Can grow up to 1.5m tall. Many narrow, fern-like leaves. Yellow, button-like flowers form in dense clusters.

⚠️ PREVENTION: Can be difficult to control once established. Due to its history of horticultural use, it can still occasionally be found in nurseries or herbal suppliers – DO NOT purchase or grow tansy!

💥 RESPONSE: Noxious weeds MUST be controlled! If you see this weed, help protect the County by reporting the sighting. Call the County’s Weed Inspector at 780-674-3331.

🌿 Learn more about common tansy:

https://abinvasives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/251008-FS-CommonTansy-1.pdf

Dalmatian Toadflax

This noxious weed spreads quickly to overtake native plants. Dalmatian Toadflax can spread through seeds & creeping roots, and is self-pollinating.

🔍 WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Upright stems up to 1m tall with some branching. Leaves are broad and heart-shaped, decreasing in size as they get higher. Flowers are bright yellow and resemble snapdragon flowers.

⚠️ PREVENTION: New infestations begin by seed and need disturbed ground or degraded vegetation. Difficult to eradicate once established due to extensive root system.

💥 RESPONSE: Noxious weeds MUST be controlled! If you see this weed, help protect the County by reporting the sighting. Call the County’s Weed Inspector at 780-674-3331.

🌿 Learn more about dalmatian toadflax:

https://abinvasives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/N_FS-DalmatianToadflax.pdf

Field Scabious

This noxious weed can even invade established plant communities on undisturbed ground. Infestations can take years of diligent work to control!

🔍 WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Upright, hairy, and sparsely branched stems up to 1.5m tall. Hairy leaves with a high degree of variability. Small, violet purple florets clustered into a head resembling a single flower.

⚠️ PREVENTION: Since it can invade even undisturbed plant communities, it is very difficult to prevent. It favours grassy areas, so field scabious can be widely dispersed in baled forage.

💥 RESPONSE: Noxious weeds MUST be controlled! If you see this weed, help protect the County by reporting the sighting. Call the County’s Weed Inspector at 780-674-3331.

🌿 Learn more about field scabious:

https://abinvasives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/N_FS-FieldScabious.pdf

Great Burdock

This noxious weed outcompetes native plants & productive pasture, is very difficult to control, and spreads easily. Its flowers have barbed hooks that easily attach to clothing or fur to spread seeds.  

🔍 WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Hairy, grooved stems up to 1-3 m tall. Large triangular leaves can grow from 20x25 cm up to 70x80 cm. Purple or white flowers with long hooked barbs.

⚠️ PREVENTION: Thrives on disturbed ground, so make sure to reclaim disturbed land with desirable vegetation. Control is easier in 1st year of establishment, before flowers go to seed in the 2nd year. Due to barbed flowers, limit human & animal access to established sites as much as possible.

💥 RESPONSE: Noxious weeds MUST be controlled! If you see this weed, help protect the County by reporting the sighting. Call the County’s Weed Inspector at 780-674-3331.

🌿 Learn more about great burdock:

https://abinvasives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/N_FS-GreatBurdock.pdf

Himalayan Balsam

This fast-growing & highly invasive prohibited noxious weed can quickly overtake riverbanks, wetlands, shorelines, and wet other areas.

🔍 WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Smooth, hairless, and 4-sided stems that can grow up to 3m tall. Lance-shaped leaves are 6-15cm long. Large, hooded flowers can be 2.5-4cm long and in shades of pink, purple, or white.

⚠️ PREVENTION: Initial spread is often from ornamental planting. DO NOT purchase, grow, or exchange Himalayan balsam! Control efforts can focus on preventing flowering/seed production.

💥 RESPONSE: Prohibited noxious weeds MUST BE DESTROYED! If you see this weed, help protect the County by reporting the sighting. Call the County’s Weed Inspector at 780-674-3331.

🌿 Learn more about Himalayan balsam:

https://abinvasives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/250821-FS-HimalayanBalsam-1.pdf

Hound’s Tongue

This noxious weed contains toxic alkaloids that cause liver damage. It reproduces by seed only, and its seeds have barbs that cling to clothing or fur.

🔍 WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Upright & branched stems up to 1.5m tall. Leaves are long, with distinct veins and pointed tips. Flowers are reddish-purple and hang in small clusters. Each flower produces 4 barbed seeds.

⚠️ PREVENTION: Hound’s tongue is a weak competitor and needs disturbed ground to establish – cattle loafing areas/wallows are common establishment points. Barbed seeds are easily carried on clothing or fur, so preventing flowering & removing seed is key to preventing spread.

💥 RESPONSE: Noxious weeds MUST be controlled! If you see this weed, help protect the County by reporting the sighting. Call the County’s Weed Inspector at 780-674-3331.

🌿 Learn more about hound’s tongue:

https://abinvasives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/N_FS-HoundsTongue.pdf

Leafy Spurge

This noxious weed outcompetes native plants with its extensive & persistent root system that can grow 9m deep! Leafy spurge also produces a milky latex that can poison livestock. A single plant can produce more than 130,000 seeds.

🔍 WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Plants can grow 1m tall and produces a milky latex. Numerous long & narrow leaves. Small yellow flowers in clusters, each supported by 2 green heart-shaped bracts.

⚠️ PREVENTION: Leafy spurge is extremely resilient. If accessing an infested area, make sure to wash the undercarriage of vehicles and isolate animals that have been in the area for at least a week as seeds remain viable after being passed through an animal.

💥 RESPONSE: Noxious weeds MUST be controlled! If you see this weed, help protect the County by reporting the sighting. Call the County’s Weed Inspector at 780-674-3331.

🌿 Learn more about leafy spurge:

https://abinvasives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/N_FS-LeafySpurge.pdf

Orange Hawkweed

This prohibited noxious weed is highly invasive! It has very high rates of seed production & germination, its seeds are wind-dispersed, it can reproduce through plant fragments, and it grows rapidly. Established infestations can quickly become "uneradicable”.

🔍 WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Solitary, upright, and hairy stems. Leaves are oblong and also hairy. Red-orange flowers open in clusters.

⚠️ PREVENTION: Learn to recognize orange hawkweed early, before it gets established! Hairs on the stem, leaves, and seeds are very characteristic of non-native hawkweeds.

💥 RESPONSE: Prohibited noxious weeds MUST BE DESTROYED! If you see this weed, help protect the County by reporting the sighting. Call the County’s Weed Inspector at 780-674-3331.

🌿 Learn more about orange hawkweed:

https://abinvasives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/150727-FS-OrangeHawkweed-1.pdf

Oxeye Daisy

This noxious weed is an aggressive invader! A single plant creates 26,000+ seeds. They quickly overtake productive forage & pasture land, and are avoided by grazing animals.

🔍 WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Single flowers at the end of each stem, white petals with yellow centers. Leaves are lance-shaped with toothed margins. Can grow up to 1m tall.

⚠️ PREVENTION: Often mistaken for non-invasive cousins like Shasta Daisy, but can cross breed with Shasta and result in an invasive hybrid that is extremely difficult to distinguish from either parent. Can be mixed in with wildflower seed mixes – avoid seed mixes that don’t list their contents!

💥 RESPONSE: Noxious weeds MUST be controlled! If you see this weed, help protect the County by reporting the sighting. Call the County’s Weed Inspector at 780-674-3331.

🌿 Learn more about oxeye daisy:

https://abinvasives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/N_FS-OxeyeDaisy.pdf


Prussian Carp

This week, we’re taking a break from weeds to talk about a different invasive species! Prussian Carp are a non-native invasive fish that grow rapidly & reproduce quickly to outcompete native fish for food & space. While not provincially regulated, Prussian Carp can contribute to major loss of native fish species!

🔍 WHAT TO LOOK FOR: These fish are plump & deep-bodied, similar to goldfish. Adults have a silvery colouration. Can inhabit a wide variety of still water bodies or slow-flowing rivers with submerged vegetation. 

⚠️ PREVENTION: Prussian Carp was historically considered a subspecies of goldfish and popular in home aquariums. Accidental & intentional releases are responsible for their introduction & spread. Never empty your aquarium into a natural water body!

💥 RESPONSE: While not provincially regulated, report all sightings of Prussian Carp! If you see this fish, help protect the County by reporting the sighting: call 780-674-3331.

🌿 Learn more about Prussian Carp:

https://abinvasives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/250814-FS-Prussian-Carp-1.pdf

Scentless Chamomile

This noxious weed spreads quickly to overtake native plants & productive pasture. A single plant on 1 square meter of land can produce up to a million seeds!

🔍 WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Upright & highly branched stems up to 1m tall. Leaves are finely divided into short segments (carrot-like) and odorless. Flowers are often confused with oxeye daisy (also a noxious weed) – flowers are nearly identical, but leaves are very different. Remember: there are no native white-flowered daisies in Alberta!

⚠️ PREVENTION: Seed contamination can be common in crop/grass seed and livestock forage. Scentless chamomile doesn’t compete well in existing healthy plant communities, but is very difficult to control in crop situations.

💥 RESPONSE: Noxious weeds MUST be controlled! If you see this weed, help protect the County by reporting the sighting. Call the County’s Weed Inspector at 780-674-3331.

🌿 Learn more about scentless chamomile:

https://abinvasives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/N_FS-ScentlessChamomile.pdf

Tall Buttercup

This noxious weed produces a bitter, irritating oil that is toxic to livestock (especially cattle) and can irritate or blister the skin. Tall buttercup can quickly overtake productive pasture.

🔍 WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Skinny & hollow stems can grow 90cm tall. Leaves are small & hairy with 3-4 narrow segments. Bright yellow flowers appear at the end of long stalks.

⚠️ PREVENTION: Can easily contaminate forage seed. Use only certified weed-free grass & forage seed!

💥 RESPONSE: Noxious weeds MUST be controlled! If you see this weed, help protect the County by reporting the sighting. Call the County’s Weed Inspector at 780-674-3331.

🌿 Learn more about tall buttercup:

White Cockle

This noxious weed can cause serious economic problems – it produces many seeds, and its seeds are very difficult to separate from alfalfa, clover, or grass seeds if contaminated.

🔍 WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Plants contain many skinny, hairy stems that grow 30-120cm tall. It has numerous flowers, which have 5 notched petals that only open in the evening.

⚠️ PREVENTION: White cockle seeds are similar in size to clover, so it can be a contaminant of forage seed. Ensure your seed is certified weed-free!

💥 RESPONSE: Noxious weeds MUST be controlled! If you see this weed, help protect the County by reporting the sighting. Call the County’s Weed Inspector at 780-674-3331.

🌿 Learn more about white cockle:

Wild Boar

This week, we’re taking a break from weeds to talk about another pest!  Wild boar (or, feral pigs) cause serious damage to cultivated crops & native plants by rooting & trampling. They can also pass diseases to humans or livestock.

In Alberta, wild boar has historically been raised for meat markets, and escapees or releases have established resilient feral populations. 

🔍 WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Adult feral pigs can be 1.5-2.5 m long, and up to 90 cm tall. Bodies are covered with a thick coat of coarse brown hair. Their upper canine teeth can be visible when their mouth is closed. Be on the lookout for signs of rooting like large swaths of overturned soil or destroyed vegetation.

⚠️ PREVENTION: Wild boars are especially difficult to control by hunting, as they are known to change behaviors to avoid humans. REPORT ALL SIGHTINGS!

💥 RESPONSE: Wild boar sightings MUST be reported! If you see this pest, help protect the County by reporting to the County of Barrhead (780-674-3331) and Province of Alberta (310-FARM).

🌿 Learn more about feral pigs:

Yellow Flag Iris

This prohibited noxious weed quickly outcompetes native species for space as it reproduces by seed and fast-spreading rhizomes. Yellow flag iris thrives in wet areas and can rapidly infest wetlands & riverbanks following a flood.

🔍 WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Has long, pointed leaves that are dark green and can grow 50-100 cm long. Pale yellow flowers have 6 "clawed” segments with brown flecks. Has large tuberous roots.

⚠️ PREVENTION: Can often be found for sale as an ornamental – do not purchase or grow this plant! New plants can also often be found at the high water mark after a flood.

💥 RESPONSE: Prohibited noxious weeds MUST BE DESTROYED! If you see this weed, help protect the County by reporting the sighting. Call the County’s Weed Inspector at 780-674-3331.

🌿 Learn more about yellow flag iris:

https://abinvasives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PN_FS-YellowFlagIris.pdf

Yellow Toadflax

This noxious weed can cause serious problems to rangeland & meadows. It has an extensive creeping root system that forms large colonies to crowd all other vegetation.

🔍 WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Mature plants can have 1-25 stems. Has numerous long, skinny, & soft leaves. Snapdragon-shaped flowers are arranged in dense spikes.

⚠️ PREVENTION: Wildflower seed mixes may contain yellow toadflax (also known as "spurred snapdragon”). Avoid wildflower mixes that don’t list their contents!

💥 RESPONSE: Noxious weeds MUST be controlled! If you see this weed, help protect the County by reporting the sighting. Call the County’s Weed Inspector at 780-674-3331.

🌿 Learn more about yellow toadflax:

https://abinvasives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/N_FS-CommonToadflax.pdf

Jimsonweed

All parts of this prohibited noxious weed are very toxic to humans & animals! Toxin concentration varies greatly between plants, making the risk of fatal overdose high. DO NOT TOUCH ANY PART OF THIS PLANT! Jimsonweed is also a strong competitor for moisture and light, reducing crop yields and crowding native plants.

🔍 WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Plants can grow up to 2m tall with hollow purplish stems. Trumpet-shaped flowers are foul-smelling and can be white or purple. Seed capsules are large and densely covered with spines.

⚠️ PREVENTION: Occasionally available as an ornamental – do not plant or grow Jimsonweed! Can also be a contaminant of crop seed.

💥 RESPONSE: Prohibited noxious weeds MUST BE DESTROYED! If you see this weed, help protect the County by reporting the sighting. Call the County’s Weed Inspector at 780-674-3331.

🌿 Learn more about jimsonweed:

https://abinvasives.ca/fact-sheet/jimsonweed/