Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and ripgut brome (Bromus diandrus) are native to Europe and Asia but are considered invasive species here in the southwest United States. These grasses were accidentally introduced into Zion in the late 1800s by early settlers farming and grazing livestock in the canyon. Cheatgrass caused farmers to feel “cheated” out of their normal wheat crops, believing that the grass contained impure seeds. Ripgut brome, as the name implies, is not something that people or wildlife find tasty - it has sharp barbs on its seed heads. These invasive grasses require wet, cold winters, and dry, hot summers, making them perfectly adapted for Zion. These grasses are efficient at using available water to outcompete native species, meaning that they can easily take over large areas of land relatively quickly. This results in less biodiversity and habitat loss for local wildlife. Dense patches of these invaders grow quickly and dry out fast, creating a highly flammable landscape that is vulnerable to wildfire. In a healthy desert environment, native plants grow with space between them (often filled with wildflowers seasonally), making it more difficult for fire to spread quickly. The park works to control these undesirable grasses with prescribed burns and herbicide treatments in the hopes of restoring native grass communities and reducing fire danger in the park. #Biodiversity #LeaveNoTrace