Starting March 2, it will be illegal to buy, sell or own exotic yew plants, which earlier this winter were blamed for the death of more than 20 elk, the Idaho Mountain Express reports.

Blaine County commissioners last week approved an ordinance that classifies Japanese, Chinese and English yew plants as noxious weeds. Any landowner with knowledge of the presence of the plants on their property could face up to six months in jail and up to $6,000 in fines.

The commissioners will discuss at a future meeting how the ordinance will be enforced and how much the fees should be if the county needs to remove plants from private property.