Invasive Species Removal

Invasive species are one of the biggest threats to healthy parks in North Texas. They can outcompete native plants, degrade wildlife habitat, increase erosion, and create long-term maintenance, safety, and infrastructure challenges. The Dallas Park and Recreation Department’s Conservation–Forestry Team uses a practical, science-based approach to invasive species management that protects natural resources while improving public safety, reducing flood risk, and lowering wildfire hazards across the park system.

Our Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach

All invasive species work is guided by Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles. This approach emphasizes:

• Prevention and early detection to address issues before they become widespread
• Using the least disruptive methods first whenever they can achieve the desired outcome
• Targeted treatments that reduce impacts to park visitors, wildlife, pollinators, and the surrounding environment
• Ongoing monitoring and adaptive management as site conditions change

Invasive Species Commonly Managed in North Texas Parks

Management efforts focus on species that spread aggressively and create ecological, safety, and infrastructure concerns, including:

• Feral hogs, which damage trails, creek banks, utilities, and natural habitats
• Johnsongrass and other invasive grasses that displace wildflowers and native prairie plants
• Ligustrum (privet) and other invasive shrubs, which form dense thickets in floodplains and along creeks
• Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an invasive insect pest that threatens ash trees and can create public safety risks as infested trees decline and fail. Find more information on the Park and Recreation Department Emerald Ash Borer action plan. 

Tools and techniques: matching the method to the site

Different sites require different tools, and invasive species management is often a multi-year effort.

• Mechanical and manual removal: Crews may use hand tools or equipment such as a forestry mulcher to remove dense vegetation, improve sightlines, and restore access for maintenance and emergency response.
• Volunteer participation: Community volunteers assist with hands-on removal projects that support habitat restoration and stewardship under staff supervision.
• Targeted herbicide applications: When necessary, carefully selected herbicides are applied by Texas Department of Agriculture–licensed pesticide applicators, following all label requirements and safety protocols as part of IPM.
• Goat grazing (new in 2025): In select locations, prescribed goat grazing is used to suppress invasive vegetation and reduce regrowth pressure, especially in areas with steep terrain or limited equipment access.

Public safety, flooding, and wildfire risk reduction

Invasive species management provides important benefits beyond ecology:

• Improved visibility and safety: Removing dense invasive brush increases visibility along trails, park edges, and waterways, supporting public safety and coordination with other city departments.
• Reduced flooding risk: Managing invasive vegetation in creek corridors and floodplains helps improve water flow, reduces debris accumulation, and supports healthier riparian systems.
• Wildfire risk reduction: Controlling invasive grasses and overgrown brush lowers fuel loads, helping reduce wildfire intensity and improve defensible space near neighborhoods and park infrastructure.

Feral hog management

Feral hogs require specialized control methods. The department works with qualified contractors to trap and remove hogs as efficiently and humanely as possible, reducing damage to natural areas, trails, and drainage systems. Because hog populations can rebound quickly, this work includes continued monitoring and follow-up efforts.

Training, outreach, and communication

Effective invasive species management depends on informed staff and an engaged community. These efforts include:

• Ongoing staff training in safety, species identification, and best management practices
• Community outreach and education to help visitors understand why management is necessary and what they may see in parks
• Coordination with partners and occasional media engagement for highly visible or citywide projects

Through these combined efforts, the Dallas Park and Recreation Department protects natural habitats, improves public safety, reduces environmental risks, and ensures parks remain healthy, resilient, and welcoming for future generations.