Wild Parsnip, also known as Giant Hogweed, is a fast spreading poisonous plant that Chateauguay Valley residents should be aware of.
Often confused for Queen Anne’s Lace, the yellowish-green flowering umbrella plants are now extremely common along roadsides, in ditches, and along streams and rivers. The weed can be found on public and private property, and as such, locals should know that this plant can cause severe burns and ought to be approached and handled with care.
As the plant has spread significantly throughout Quebec and Ontario in recent years, scientists are currently researching whether the weed, which originated in Europe and Asia, is suppressing native plants. What is certain is that because of its danger to humans, individuals should know how to spot it. If the sap in the plant’s leaves comes into contact with skin, and is then exposed to sunlight, it can cause third degree burns. Contact with the eyes should also be avoided at the risk of irritation and even, in severe cases, blindness.
The City of Ottawa recently implemented a strategy to monitor and manage the problem with selective herbicides and mowing, as well as a public awareness campaign of the plant’s dangers. The plant, which is more common in rural, agricultural areas, has also been increasingly spotted in Montreal and highlighted on CTV. Upper Saint Lawrence municipalities do not currently have a protocol for how the plant should be dealt with, but are certainly aware of its existence and the accompanying concerns.
The removal guidelines, outlined by The Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, are to wear protective clothing (long sleeves, pants, gloves and glasses) and to dig the plant up by the roots with a shovel. Wild Parsnip has long taproots and repeated digging, as well as mowing in protective clothing, will likely be required. Sources recommend collecting the dug up plants in black plastic bags and leaving them in the sun for two weeks before collection.
For further information on how to deal with burns or removal in your area, contact: Info Sante: 811; Poison Control: 1-800-463-5060; The Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks: 418-521-3830.
