As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise:

1.  ’Control’ means to cut, destroy or eradicate established noxious weed populations in order to prevent:

(a) The spread, maturation and dispersal of any propagative part of the noxious weed; and

(b) The reproduction and spread of the noxious weed.

2.  ’Department’ means the State Department of Agriculture.

3.  ’Director’ means the Director of the Department.

4.  ’Noxious weed’ means any species of plant which is, or is likely to be, a public nuisance, detrimental or destructive and difficult to control.

5.  ’Pest’ means any form of animal or vegetable life detrimental to the crops, horticulture, livestock, public health, wildlife, quality of water and beneficial uses of land in this State, including, without limitation, any insect, snail, nematode, fungus, virus, bacterium, microorganism, mycoplasma, weed, parasitic plant or any other plant that is normally considered to be a pest of cultivated plants, uncultivated plants, agricultural commodities, horticultural products or nursery stock, or that the Director declares to be a pest.

6.  ’Propagative part’ means any seed, cutting or other plant part from which a noxious weed can grow.

7.  ’Vertebrate pest’ means any animal of the subphylum Vertebrata, except predatory animals, which is normally considered to be a pest, including a gopher, ground squirrel, rat, mouse, starling, blackbird and any other animal which the Director may declare to be a pest.