Weed warriors battle in Camp Sherman

Camp Sherman residents have declared war on knapweed, attacking the noxious weed (Centaureas species) in the residential area of Metolius Meadows.

The anti-weed squad plans to remove weeds in other Camp Sherman locales.

So far, the group has met four times, and last week had 12 people working on removing this noxious pest.

"We plan to meet about once a week and remove unwanted weeds," said group leader Beth Van Campen. "Knapweed and other weeds will be targeted by the group."

Weeds shelter insects, overrun native vegetation, reduce property values and the aesthetics of an enjoyable landscape and many can poison humans, livestock and wildlife.

They lead to environmental damage through destruction of native plant and animal habitat.

Some people are concerned about potential harm from pulling knapweed, and experts recommend wearing protective clothing.

A few years back there was an anecdotal internet report by Jerry Niehoff, an Idaho soil scientist, that he had contracted (benign) tumors on his hands several months after handling spotted knapweed plants.

Niehoff emphasized that the information he provided about his experiences were purely anecdotal and he avoided even suggesting that knapweed can cause cancer. However, other sources picked up on Niehoffs' original internet article, stated that knapweed contains a cancer causing chemical.

Dr. Karl Musgrave, an epidemiologist and coordinator of the cancer surveillance program in Wyoming responded.

"There is no evidence that exposure to knapweed can cause cancer," he stated in a Wyoming Department of Healthinternet news release. However, he noted, "some species of knapweed, and Russian knapweed in particular, are known to be poisonous to animals. There is no question that many species of knapweed contain toxins that can be damaging to cells.

"The toxin identified in Russian knapweed and in other types of knapweed should and can be avoided by taking the simple precaution of wearing gloves," Musgrave concluded.

Spotted knapweed is a biennial or short-lived perennial with a somewhat "woolly" appearance. It infests roadsides, waste areas and rangelands. It spreads by seeds carried by wind, animals, or people.

Contact the Camp Sherman knapweed patrol at 595-1171.