Some seeds remain dormant in the soil for decades and sprout after a moderate fire. Aspen, huckleberry, fireweed and grasses quickly move in to regenerate the vegetation. Native Americans commonly burned prairies and pine-forest understory plants to improve grazing for deer, elk and bison. Introduction of non-native species has also disrupted natural habitats, most notably fish and noxious weeds. Noxious weeds introduced largely by Euro-American settlers in crop or pasture seeds over the past two centuries, are so aggressive they have infested millions of acres, choking out native plants, and destroying fish, wildlife and livestock habitat.
Landowners are responsible for eradicating weeds from their property.