Imagine a landscape that is completely dominated by cheatgrass. Instead of native grasses, wildflowers, sagebrush, and the call of songbirds, picture a monoculture of dried non-native grasses, mostly devoid of life and ready to ignite from the smallest spark. If we do not act, this could be the future of much of our western rangelands.

Invasive annual grasses (IAGs)—such as cheatgrass, ventenata, and medusahead—are rapidly degrading western rangelands and aggressively outcompeting native vegetation, fueling catastrophic wildfires, and threatening the future of working lands.

This film highlights these negative impacts on landscapes in Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, and Wyoming and explores the ecological, ranching, and economic impacts of IAGs in western rangelands. The stories in the film highlight how collective action and proactive solutions are making a difference for communities across the West. Hear from land managers who share their experiences with managing these invasive species through partnerships and collaboration. Learn about the best management tools and strategies, like herbicide application, restoration, and monitoring, for tackling this threat across different geographies.

The time is now to start managing these grasses with tools and technologies that are currently available. Defend Your Core!