Taking A Hike? Don't Pick Up Any Unwanted Guest!
This is useful information for people planning on doing some outdoor trekking in Southern Ontario...
Taking A Hike? Don't Pick Up Any Unwanted Guest!
Planning on hiking this summer and enjoying the great outdoors? Take along extra caution in your backpack this year.
A plant has grown in our midst and it isn't of the friendly variety. Heracleum mantegazzianum, or giant hog weed as it is commonly referred to, is a poisonous plant most recently found west of Ottawa and southern Ontario. Health officials are scrambling to contain this invasive plant that can cause temporary or permanent blindness, severe burns and/or blistering.
The plant grows about 20 feet tall and is about 5 to 6 feet wide with purple blotches or striping on its stem. They are estimating that each plant has about 500,000 seeds; seeds that spread by people, wind or birds and this is how the hog weed plant mainly multiplies!
The worry here is that it is a very poisonous plant and all it takes, is to get some of its sap on your skin. You may not even realize it, until its too late. All you have to do is brush by a plant that is broken open and you will get these bad burns.
Currently weed-whacking programs are underway to stop these giant plants from spreading and brochures are being sent out to inform the public. If you see any plants resembling the description of the hog weed, contact your municipality immediately, this is a serious and dangerous situation.Taking A Hike? Don't Pick Up Any Unwanted Guest!
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