I don’t want to cause widespread panic, but there is a nasty new plant out there called Giant Hogweed, and its wreaking havoc across the country.
How bad is it, you ask?
Well, if you happen to get Giant Hogweed sap on you, and your skin is exposed to sunlight (hard to get away from these days) a chemical reaction occurs which can cause serious burns, and even scaring.
It is a plant I would desribe as somewhat like ‘poison ivy on steroids’ which can reportedly grow to over 15 feet tall!
This nasty invasive species has also been known to cause temporary blindness and even permanent loss of eyesight. If you come across it in your travel, for goodness sake stay away!
I caught my first glimpse of, what I believe to be, Giant Hogweed yesterday along the River Road near Braeside, on the way back from our trailer in Cobden. Although I cannot say with 100% certainty it was Giant Hogweed, it sure did match the description.
If you should happen to spot Giant Hogweed in your area, you are encouraged to report it to the MNR.
A terrible burn caused by Hogweed sap:
For more information check out:
http://www.ontarioweeds.com/weed.php?w=HERMZ
Wow that is some nasty plant. Wonder how the animals will deal with this un-welcome plant? The animals aren’t use to it just like us.
It’s big enough for birds to hang on or other our legged animal to rub on it. If this just started happening imagine next year! It will probably take over all other plants…..bad…very bad
CC, that’s a good question on how wildlife is affected, I’ll have to find out.
I’m sure it has ill effects on many different areas of our eco system..such as chocking out other native plant species like the purple loosestrife has done for years!
Outdoorsguy
http://nvca.on.ca/ws_par/groups/public/@pub/@nvca/documents/web_content/wspar_025649.pdf
some might use this
Thanks Chessy, I just noticed the Hogweed link you sent..its a good one too
Outdoorsguy
I got into some of this stuff 5 years ago near Winchester, and boy it is not good. I was moving rocks along an old tree line, and at first I thought it was poison ivy, but I swear I never saw any poison ivy, but there was some of these plants around, and the doctor told me it looked more like burns, not like poison ivy which is more of a raised rash. Apparently you have to break the plant and it is the sap in the plant that will burn you, the thing is, the “burn” becomes worse when combined with sweat and sunshine, and you don’t notice it until a few hours later, which is too late. I had it on my legs and arms, it took about 2-3 weeks to go heal, the first week I had gauze on most of it.
Stay away from this stuff, and don’t break it or you will regret it.
Hey Bob, that’s terrible!
Do you know if Giant Hogweed has spread considerably in the Winchester-area, over the past 5 years since you got into it?
Did you end up with any scarring?
Outdoorsguy
Hey Jeff, a couple of scars on the legs and one on the arm, not big though. I haven’t seen them that tall, but it is hard to judge when driving around, since it is hard to know how deep the ditches are. There is also Wild Parsnip plants that kind of look like the Hogweed but does not grow as tall or as big of leaves, but I believe can be just as bad on the skin as Hogweed, maybe even from the same family of plants, not sure though.
Geez Bob, that’s not good…but from what I’ve heard (& seen) it could have been much worse.
After looking up Wild Parsnip…I believe that may have been the plant I spotted up the valley near Braeside..I know I have Wild Parsnip for sure around my place..
According to my research, Giant Hogweed, Wild Parsnip and Poison Hemlock are all related and all cause problems. They contain psoralen – an ingredient the reacts with sunlight to create those nasty burns like you got.
Guess we have a few to watch out for!
Outdoorsguy
That is a bad weed. I hope that we can think of something useful to do with that bad boy. Maybe it can cure cancer or something. If, it can’t. We will be spending alot of money to learn how to get rid of the thing.
the use of glyphosate which is the active ingredient in “round up ” will get rid of the stuff…. oopps father Dalton took that away from us
ya it’s funny, every article I’ve read recently, it’s been in every newspaer in Ontario, the Low down to Hull and Back, all kinds of blogs, and on two radio stations that I’ve heard, everyone says cut the flowers off and let the flowers roast in a plastic bag in the sun for a few days to kill the seeds, and use Round Up on the plant???????
Where would these know it all experts like us to get the Round UP
I can’t believe all the coverage of Giant Hogweed in Ontario, and the suggestion that we use a herbicide spray; banned in this province as of April 2009
I suppose the Hogweed in QC and other provinces has some trouble headed its way, whereas in Ontario it stands to flourish without any herbicide control measures!
Have you ever heard of anything so ridiculous?
WHERE IS BILLY THE EXTERMINATOR WHEN YOU NEED HIM!!! He’d know how to take care of that Giant Hogweed let me tell you..course then he’d probably release it someone else..
Outdoorsguy
Jeff is Round Up or any of the other great lawn and garden products available in Quebec, I don’t think so but I’m not sure. I thought they banned it even before Ontario did
Iggy, I just looked it up and you’re right..it was banned in QC as far back as 2006 it seems. I didnt know that, so I guess the only way now is to pick it up in the States…and then sneak it across the border hidden in your engine compartment..
Sorry, was that out loud?
Outdoorsguy
lol got to have contact with your local farmer … i know guys that are doing food plots that are looking for it …:) its avalible you just have to know where to look 🙂
Jeff,
Did you see the story about hogweed in this morning’s Ottawa Citizen? Your blog about it on July 12 probably helped some identify this nasty mother.
I am lauging at the explanation on how David Barkley, city manager of forestry services explains how to get rid of this plant once properly identified.
Quote: “If there’s a positive identification, the onus will be on property owners to get rid of the plants. It’s not an easy job.
Barkley said the first step is to don protective clothing including long pants, long sleeves, gloves and goggles, and cut off the plant’s seed heads.
Residents should put the seed heads in a black garbage bag and set it aside for a few days before putting the heads into the compost. They should then spray the plant with over-the-counter pesticide Roundup to kill its root system. …”
HELLO MR CITY MANAGER OF FORESTRY SERVICES. ROUND UP HAS BEEN BANNED from the City of Ottawa.
Jeff..perhaps that’s a story for another blog!
Alain, I hate to moderate people’s comments, but I cannot allow a link to that ‘other’ paper posted in my Blog…sorry man…I did hear about the article though.
Yes, I believe the City Manager may need to do some ‘back-pedaling’ on the whole Roudup idea and honestly, I would like to know what they do suggest we do?
I still say we hire Billy the Exterminator….that guy can take care of anything down there in Louisiana, and all he needs spiky hair, a leather suit and a can of Pyrethrin (it’s made from crushed chrysanthemum flowers, ya know)
Anyhow, you’re right..”Dealing with Giant Hogweed” should be a topic for another post…now we realize we have the stuff around town, but the hell do we do about it?
Outdoorsguy
Your right abouot round up…I have the perfect alternative and trust me it does work and is environmental friendly.
If you have a Round Up container laying around look at the basic composant you will find “Vinigar” lol yeah its basically vinigar you are paying for. Simply buy vinigar ans spary weeds and youll see that they will die pretty quick too.
I use it to kill weeds around the pool and it is working liKe a charm for me.
CC
works good on frech fries too 😉
wonder what it does to our stomache
there is not a drop of vinigar in roundup .. it is glyphosate.
Yeah, I had heard it was actually the active ingrediant – glyphosate as Chessy said – which was banned and not so much the brand name.
It does beg the question though..will vinegar actually work to kill this stuff?
Outdoorsguy
it’s up to you to be our fearless leader
report back…….
from the hospital if need be
Land Exterminations Under the Health or Safety Exception
An exception to control poisonous plants to the touch (e.g. poison ivy, giant hog weed, poison sumac, stinging nettle) is provided in s. 22 of O. Reg. 63/09. Note that the only banned (Class 9) pesticides that can be used for this exception are listed in Class 10.
Ingredients contained in pesticides products allowed for use under the public health or safety exception. These are the only ingredients that may be used to control plants that are poisonous to the touch under the public health or safety exception.
Note: Under Section 4(1) of Regulation 63/09 under the Pesticides Act the Director has the authority to add or remove pesticides to maintain an updated list. As such, the number and names of pesticides on these lists will change over time as newly registered pesticides are classified for sale and use in Ontario, or as products are reclassified or declassified.
1
No.
A.I. Code(s)
ACTIVE INGREDIENT NAME
1.
GLG
Glufosinate Ammonium
2.
GPS
Glyphosate
3.
GPI
Isopropylamine salt of Glyphosat
I believe we have a new leader…Chessy please take centre stage…and if you feel like driving up here to Ottawa, we may even have a job for you!
Outdoorsguy
i have my licence still … from years ago… still up on the laws on what and how to spray…
Chessy, someone with your background would flourish up here I bet. Have you ever thought of leaving the Port?
The SUN just reported that, since the Giant Hogweed advisory was put into effect, the City of Ottawa has received over 150 calls. Fortunately no more cases of the noxious plant have been seen, thank goodness.
Residents seem to be most commonly mistaking Queen Anne’s for Giant Hogweed. Wild Parsnip, the smaller less poisonous plant has also being reported as GHW.
Is it just Ottawa or has the Hogweed frenzy reached other areas of the country?
This weekend, I will be investing the patch I noticed in Renfrew County near Braeside last Sunday…I’m curious now to see if it really was the dreaded GHW.
GHW….sounds like a punk rock band!
Outdoorsguy
Today there is really no money in it if you are private. The big companies, if you know who I mean, clean up. The insurance is crazy for spraying and dealing with “todays” people would be a nightmare. If you “need” anything let me know 🙂
I need some Round Up LOL
chessy, is it illegal to posess Round Up and other things banned like Weed and Feed or is it just illegal to sell it. I think in Manatoba you can still buy it, and I know in NY State you can as well, but I wouldn’t want to get caught coming across the border if it’s illegal to possess
Prohibitions – pesticides used for cosmetic purposes
7.1 (1) No person shall use or cause or permit the use in, on or over land of a pesticide that has been prescribed for the purpose of this subsection. 2008, c. 11, s. 2.
Excepted uses
(2) Subject to the regulations, subsection (1) does not apply to the following uses of a pesticide:
1. Uses related to golf courses, if any prescribed conditions have been met.
2. Uses related to agriculture.
3. Uses related to forestry.
4. Uses related to the promotion of public health or safety.
5. Other prescribed uses, if any prescribed conditions have been met. 2008, c. 11, s. 2.
from this i dont see how you can not possess it ….this act reads a little like the young smokers stuff illeagle for them to buy but not smoke ..
iggy you know where to find me
any one concerned and want the real law dont listen to me .. call the numbers make these people earn there keep
Questions about the ban can be directed to the Ministry of the Environment’s Public Information Centre at 1-800-565-4923 or 416-325-4000.
thanks, sounds to me it’s like a radar detector, illegal to use, but not to won
I meant own
What in the world are you doing out in the middle of that nasty stuff? I wonder where the weed came from. I hope that we can find something that can get rid of the stuff. Thanks for the heads up. I had never heard of it before now.
Now this is what I call a blog.
Thanks for the education on this one.
Hey CC, you’ve come to the right place thats for sure!
Hey, have you seen any of this stuff around?
I checked up the valley this weekend and what I suspected was GHW was actually something else…oh well…I mean…that’s good!
Outdoorsguy
I haven’t seen any… I think…but like the articles I’ve red, its kind of hard to identify hen they are about 1 foot tall. I know I’ve seen smaller versions of it all along the side of the road…silly me with the whipper snipper and shorts…lol my legs look fine so far.
I haven’t been in the field in a while now with the farmer’s corn being full grown, I am anxious to get back there very soon though.
Another excuse to escape from chores at home 🙂
CC
i am trying to get our golf course to post warnings near a large patch of readily accessible wild parsnip. Is there no requirement to force such a posting?