Weed & Pest Control

COMMISSIONERS

“MISSION: It is the responsibility of all property owners to control weeds and designated pests on their land. All weeds that grow to a condition or size to threaten public safety must be removed. Our mission is to work with landowners to create a plan in eliminating weeds and pests that violate Idaho Code and/or County weed and pest ordinances. Property owners may hire Canyon County Weed and Pest for a fee to spray for them or to subcontract mowing services for them. If there is no effort made to control weeds or pests, Canyon County may proceed pursuant to the law to have them controlled. The owner will incur the expense of abatement. If it is not paid, it will be applied to the owner’s property tax.”

Links to related code:
Idaho Code Title 22 Chapter 24 (Weeds)
Idaho Code Title 25 Chapter 26 (Pests)
Canyon County Code, Chapter 2, Article 1 (Public Nuisances)
Canyon County Code, Chapter 2, Article 1 (Civil Enforcement Procedure)
Canyon County Resolution 21-004 pdf (Pocket Gopher Pest Designation)
*NEW* – 24-207 Establishing Fees for Owl Box Cleaning Services in Canyon County (Owl Box Cleaning)

*New Owl Box Cleaning Service Available in Canyon County!

Owl Box Cleaning Service Available through Canyon County.

For Weed & Pest questions, please contact our office at (208) 459-0510 or weed-gopher@canyoncounty.id.gov.

Per a resolution signed by the Board of County Commissioners (24-207 Establishing Fees for Owl Box Cleaning Services in Canyon County pdf ), Effective Nov. 12, 2024, the new fee schedule for the Canyon County Weed & Pest Control Department is as follows:

Weed & Pest Fee Schedule for 2024-2025

GOPHER

Idaho Code Title 25 Chapter 26

The Canyon County Pest District has declared our only pest is the pocket gopher. We provide bounty at $1.00 per tail delivered to our office. We advise to call the office before coming in with gopher tails.

We provide a trapper for small plots at $25.00 an hour (please note: there will be a $25 minimum charge per trip; anything additional will be charged at the hourly rate). Training can be provided at your request. Call 208-459-0510 for more information.

POTENTIAL INVADERS

Black Henbane
Bohemian Knotweed
Brazilian Elodea
Common Crupina
Dalmation Toadflax
Dyer’s Woad
Giant Hogweed
Giant Knotweed
Goats Rue
Hoary Alyssum
Hydrilla

Johnsongrass
Leafy Spurge
Matgrass
Meadow Knapweed
Mediterranean Sage
Milium
Musk Thistle
Orange Hawkweed
Oxeye Daisy
Parrotfeather Milfoil
Perennial Sowthistle

Plumless Thistle
Policeman’s Helmet
Scotchbroom
Silverleaf Nightshade
Skeletonleaf Burage
Small Bugloss
Spotted Knapweed
Squarrose Knapweed
Syrian Beancaper
Turkish Thistle

NOXIOUS WEEDS

COMMON WEEDS IN CANYON COUNTY

Buffalobur
Canada Thistle
Diffuse Knapweed
Euarasian Watermilfoil
Field Bindweed
Hoary Cress (White Top)
Houndstongue

Japanese Knotweed
Jointed Goatgrass
Perennial Pepperweed
Poison Hemlock
Puncturevine
Purple Loosestrife

Rush Skeletonweed
Russian Knapweed
Saltcedar
Scotch Thistle
Spotted Knapweed
White Bryony

WEEDS NOT CURRENTLY KNOWN IN CANYON COUNTY

Black Henbane
Bohemian Knotweed
Brazilian Elodea
Common Crupina
Common/European Frogbit
Common Reed (Phragmites)
Curlyleaf Pondweed
Dalmation Toadflax
Dyer’s Woad
Fanwort
Feathered Mosquito Fern
Flowering Rush
Giant Hogweed
Giant Knotweed
Giant Salvinia
Goatstrue
Hoary alyssum
Hydrilla
Iberian Starthistle
Johnsongrass
Leafy Spurge
Matgrass
Meadow Knapweed
Mediterranean Sage
Milium
Musk Thistle
Orange Hawkweed
Oxeye Daisy
Parrotfeather Milfoil
Perennial Sowthistle
Plumeless Thistle
Policeman’s Helmet
Purple Starthistle
Scotch Broom
Squarros Knapweed
Small Bugloss
Starry Stonewort
Syrian Beancaper
Tall Hawkweed
Tansy Ragwort
Turkish Thistle
Variable-Leaf Milfoil
Vipers Bugloss
Water Chestnut
Water Hyacinth
Yellow Devil Hawkweed
Yellow Flag Iris
Yellow Floating Heart
Yellow Hawkweed
Yellow Starthistle
Yellow Toadflax

OWL BOX INSTALLATION & CLEANING

Canyon County Weed & Pest Control is offering to help residents manage pocket gophers and other rodents by installing Barn Owl houses on their property. Barn Owls offer an effective form of natural pest control that often provides better results than conventional trapping or poisons. The use of Barn Owls for pest control is also eco-friendly, and requires little to no maintenance. The Army Corps of Engineers estimates that it takes 3,000 gophers a year, plus mice and voles, to sustain a pair of owls and their young.

The Barn Owl houses installed by Canyon County Weed & Pest Control are mounted on a 2 3/8 inch steel pole, approximately 12 feet above the ground, and provide a nesting area for a pair of Barn Owls and their young during nesting season. Each owl house has 3 ¾ x 4 ½ entrance hole cut into them, which is slanted back at a 5 degree angle to prevent rain from coming in. The hole is also specially designed to deter predators of the Barn Owl, which include Great Horned Owls, raccoons and hawks. Each house is installed facing northeast, which allows the least amount of light in and offers the best protection from the wind. They are also stained for protection against the weather.

The price for installation is $260 (plus travel costs) for Canyon County residents. For more information or to have one installed, please contact Canyon County Weed & Pest Control at or weed-gopher@canyoncounty.id.gov.