outdoor hazards in wisconsin (g3564) · 2017-07-17 · ties, you may encounter animals, insects, or...
TRANSCRIPT
G3564
Outdoor Hazards in Wisconsin
A Guide to Insects, Plants, and Wildlife
Scott R. Craven Phillip J. Pellitteri Mark J. Renz
Introduction 1
W I L D L I F E 2
Amphibians 3Salamanders 3Toads 4
Reptiles 4Turtles 5Snakes 5
Birds 8Defendingterritory 8Handlingbirds 8
Mammals 9Short-tailedshrews 9Bats 10Skunks 10Porcupines 11Coyotes 12Graywolves 12Deer 13Blackbears 14
I N S E C T S &other invertebrates 15
Stinging insects 16Beesandwasps 16
Blood-feeding insects 18Mosquitoes 18Deerfliesandhorseflies 20Blackflies 20Bitingmidges 21Ticks 21Chiggers 22
P L A N T S 23
Plants that are poisonous when ingested 24
Poisonhemlock 25
Spottedwaterhemlock 25
Bittersweetnightshade 26
Blacknightshade 26
Jimsonweed 27
Plants that are poisonous on contact 28
Poisonivy 28Poisonsumac 29Wildparsnip 30Stingingnettle 31
Plants that cause hay fever 31Commonragweed 32Giantragweed 32
Thorny, barbed plants 33Bullthistle 33Beggarticks 34Burdock 34Cocklebur 35Sandbur 36
Referencestoproductsinthispub-licationareforyourconvenienceandarenotanendorsementofoneproductoversimilarproducts.
Contents
1
Wisconsin’s bountiful natural resources—clear lakes
and rivers, forests, rolling hills, and interesting land-
forms—make the state an ideal place for outdoor
recreation.
When you hike, camp, hunt, fish, or enjoy other outdoor activi-
ties, you may encounter animals, insects, or plants that are
capable of causing problems. While wild animals, swarms of
biting insects, and poisonous plants do exist in Wisconsin, the
risk of meeting them is actually quite low. In most cases, you
can avoid these natural hazards altogether or handle them
with little difficulty. Using common sense and having a healthy
respect for Wisconsin’s wild creatures and plants will go a long
way toward maximizing your enjoyment of the outdoors.
This guide will help you recognize, avoid, and handle potential
problems caused by wildlife, insects, or plants.
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Wildlife
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Wisconsin’swildlifeincludesmorethan500speciesofamphibians,reptiles,birds,
andmammals.Millionsofdollarsandhoursarespenthunting,observ-ing,studying,andphotographingtheseanimals.Thevastmajorityofthespeciesareabsolutelyharmless.Some,however,caninflictphysicaldamageor,attheveryleast,causeabitofafright!
AmphibiansAllamphibiansfoundinWisconsin—frogs,salamanders,andtoads—arenonvenomousandharmless.Infact,frogsandsalamandersmakeexcel-lentsubjectsforchildrentoobserveandstudy.Thesecreatureshavenoclawsanddonotbite.Ifyoucollectthemforstudy,pleasereturnthemquicklytothesitefromwhichtheycame.BefamiliarwithWisconsinregulationsaboutcaptivewildlife.Donotcollectendangeredorthreat-enedspeciesforanyreason!
SalamandersMostofWisconsin’ssalamandersaresmall,thoughsome,suchasthetigerorspottedvarieties(Ambystomasp.),maygrowto10or12inchesinlength.Youwon’toftenseeasolitarysalamandersincethesereclusivecreaturesseldomcomeintotheopen.Butwhenenvironmentalcon-ditionsareright,youmayencounterlargenumbersofthem.Forexample,awarmearly-springrainmaytriggeramassmovementoftigerorspottedsalamandersfromtheirwoodlandhomestopondsusedasbreedingsites.(Waterisanessentialpartoftheamphibianlifecycle.)Whenthesemigrationsoccur,salamandersmay
literallyfillwindowwells,coverroadways,orotherwisecreatethegeneralimpressionofaninvasion.
Theseanimalsareharmlessandshouldberemovedfromnaturaltrapsandsentontheirway.Thereisnoharminhandlingthemexceptforthepossibilityoftransferringtheir
slimyskinsecretionsintoyoureyes,whichmaycauseannoying—butnotdangerous—eyeirritation.
Frog
Spotted salamander
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MUDPUPPIESThemudpuppy(Necturussp.)isalargeaquaticsala-mander(measuringupto16inches)foundinriversandlakesthroughoutWisconsin.Thoughnotdangerous,mudpuppiescanbite,andtheirsize,bizarreexternalgills,andextremelyslimyskinmaystartleananglerwhoinadvertentlyhooksone.Mudpuppiesshouldbeunhookedandreleased.Theyarerarelyseeninthewild.
ToadsTheamphibianthatconcernspeoplemostoftenisthetoad(Bufo america-nus).Thisismainlyduetothemyththathandlingtoadswillcausewarts.Thereisnoneedforconcern—thetoad’sbumpy,wartyskinisnotcon-tagioustopeopleorotheranimals.
Thelargestbumpsonthetoad’supperbackareactuallyglands.Theseglandssecreteafoul-smellingmilkyfluidthatprotectsthetoadfrombeingeatenbypredatorsandcanirritatehumans’eyeandnosemembranes.Theonlyrealriskinholdingatoadishavingiturinate
onyourhands,whichusuallycausesyoutodropthetoad—exactlywhyitisdone.
ReptilesWisconsin’sreptiles—turtles,snakes,andlizards—aremuchbetterequippedtoprotectthemselvesthanamphibiansare.Mostreptilespecieshavesharpclawsandpower-fuljaws,andtwosnakespeciesarevenomous.Wisconsin’slizards,whichincluderacerunners,skinks,andslenderglasslizards,arequiterareandprefertodwellinsecludedspots.Youaremuchmorelikelytoencoun-teraturtleorsnakethanalizard.
Childrenareattractedtoreptilesasmuchastheyaretoamphib-ians.Andreptiles,likeamphibians,canbeexaminedorphotographedbutshouldalwaysbereturnedtothepointofcapture.Endangeredorthreatenedspecies,suchastheornateboxturtle,shouldbeleftalone!
Mudpuppy
Toad
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TurtlesAllofWisconsin’sturtleshaveclawsandstrongjaws.Youcanprotectyourselffromaturtle’sclawsbyholdingtheanimalsecurelybytheshell,butbesuretokeepawayfromtheturtle’shead—itspowerfuljawsdeserverespect.
Aturtlemaywalkslowlyonland,butitssurprisinglylongneckandheadcanmoverapidly.Anyturtleofmorethanbaseball-sizediametercandeliverabitethatispainful,particu-larlytoachild’sfingers.
SNAPPING TURTLESWisconsin’ssnappingturtles(Chelydra serpen-tina)reachimpressivesizeandarefrequentlyseeninspringwhenfemalessearchfornestingsitesonland.Theyareveryaggressiveoutofthewater!Stayawayfromtheheadend,andifyoumustcarryasnappingturtlebythetail,holditwellawayfromyourlegs.
Snappingturtlescandeliverapainfulbite,butaccordingtoRichardVogtinNatural History of Reptiles and Amphibians of Wisconsin,storiesofpeoplelosingfingersortoestosnappingturtlesare“questionable.”Infact,snappingturtlesrarelybitewhentheyareinthewater,andthefearoflosingafingerortoeleftdan-glinginthewaterisunwarranted.
SnakesWhilesomesnakesareharmlessandotherscandeliverapainfulbite,onlytwoofWisconsin’s20-plussnakespeciesarevenomous:thetimberrattlesnake(Crotalus horridus)andthemassasauga,orswamprattle-snake(Sistrurus catenatus).Through-outmostofWisconsin,thelikelihoodofencounteringavenomoussnakeisveryslim.
VENOMOUS SNAKESThelargerandmoredangerousofWisconsin’stwovenomoussnakesisthetimber rattlesnake,whichsometimesreacheslengthsof4½feetormore.ThetimberrattlerisaprotectedspeciesinWisconsin.Itisayellowishsnakewithbold,narrowdarkbands;anunmarkedyellowtoyellowish-tanhead;ablacktail;andtanrattles.
Snapping turtle
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Timberrattlerslivemainlynearcliffs,rockoutcroppings,andsteep,rockyhillsidesalongtheWisconsinandMississippirivers
andtheirtributariesinsouthwesternWisconsin(seemap).However,theymayoccasionallyturnupoutsidethisprimaryrange.
Timberrattlersareaggressivewhencorneredandarequitevenomous.Ifyouarehikingorhuntinginthetimberrattler’srangeandhabitat,beextremelycautiousaboutwhereyouplaceyourhandsandfeetwhenyouclimbaroundrocksorwalknearthickbrushpiles,fallentrees,and
woodpiles.Youshouldalsoknow,fromconsultingafirst-aidguide,whattodoincaseyouarebittenbyavenomoussnake.
Themassasaugaisasmall-tomedium-sized,heavy-bodiedsnakethatlivesinlowmarshyorswampyareasinwest-centralWisconsin.Ittendstobegrayerthanthetimberrattlesnakeandhasdistinctivestripesonitshead.
Themassasaugaisanendangeredspeciesandisrarelyseen.Ithasdisappearedfrommostofthe62Wisconsintownshipsinwhichitwasfoundbefore1980,andnowonlyafewisolatedpopulationsareknowntoexistinthesouthwesternthirdofthestate,asfareastasWalworthCounty.
Themassasaugahaslethalvenomandhumanshavediedfromitsbite,thoughnorecordofsuchdeathsexistsinWisconsin.Itsbiteisseldomfatal,althoughitcanbeseriousifleftuntreated.
timber rattlesnake territory
Timber rattlesnake
Massasauga
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NONVENOMOUS SNAKESSeveralnonvenomousWisconsinsnakes,includingthebullsnake,foxsnake,ratsnake,andracer,canreachlengthsof4feetormore.Allhavenumeroussharpteethandcandeliverapainfulbite.Ratsnakes(Pantherophis spiloides)andNorthernwatersnakes(Nerodia sipedon)havenastydispositionsandwillstrikewithlittleprovocation,whilehognosesnakes(Heterodon platyrhinos)willrarelybite,evenifprovoked.Severalofthesmallerspecies,suchasgartersnakes,canbehandledsafelywithonlytheriskofprovokingafoul-smellingexcretion.
DISTINGUISHING VENOMOUS AND NONVENOMOUS SNAKESThereareseveralwaystodistinguishvenomoussnakesfromnonvenom-oussnakes.Inthefield,thetimberrattlesnakeandmassasaugacanbeidentifiedbytheirobviousrattlesandcolorpatterns.InWisconsin,anysnakethatissolidcoloredorhaslengthwisestripesisnonvenomous.
BothofWisconsin’svenomoussnakesbelongtothepitviperfamily,so-namedbecauseofapit,ordepression,infrontofeacheye(seediagrambelow).Thepitsareheat-sensingorgansthataidinlocatingandseekingwarm-bloodedprey.Nonvenomoussnakeshavenopits.
Venomoussnakeshaveelliptical,ver-ticaleyepupils,whilenonvenomousvarietieshaveroundpupils.Also,thescalesontheundersideofthetailsofWisconsin’svenomousandnonven-omoussnakesdiffer(seediagramatlowerleft).
Youcanexaminethecharacteristicsofadeadsnakeinmoredetail,butdon’tkillasnakeforthispurpose.Becarefulwhenapproachingandexamininganapparentlydeadsnake.Itmayonlyappeardead.Afreshly“killed”snakecanturnitsheadandbitebyreflexaction.
Formoreonsnakeidentification,seetheUniversityofWisconsin-ExtensionpublicationSnakes of Wisconsin(G3139),theexcellentWisconsinDepartmentofNaturalResources(DNR)publicationbythesamename(Snakes of Wisconsin),orahigh-qualityfieldguide.
Pit viper
nostril
pit
elliptical,verticalpupil
Venomous snake
Singlerowofscalesunderendoftail
Nonvenomous snake
Doublerowofscalesunderendoftail
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BirdsBirdsshouldbeasourceofinter-estandwonderfortheoutdoorsenthusiast—notasafetyconcern.Althoughsomelargerspecieshavesharptalonsorimpressivebills,theyusethemonlytoobtainfoodordefendthemselves.Birdscanbedangerousintwosituations:whentheyaredefendingtheirnestsorterritoriesandwhentheyhavebeeninjuredorincapacitated.
Defending territoryManybirds,fromswallowsandblackbirdstohawks,owls,andswans,becomeveryaggressiveanddefen-siveduringthenestingseason.Swal-lowsfrequentlydiveatpeoplewhoapproachtheirnests,andsomemayevenstrikeanintruder’shead.Suchbehaviorisannoyingbutishardlyasafetyproblem.
Largerbirdscaninflictsomedamage.Largewaterfowl(suchasgeeseandswans)andmostraptors(includ-inghawks,owls,andeagles)havepowerfulwingsandstrong,oftensharp,bills;andraptorshavedanger-oustalons.Cooper’shawksnestinginurbanandsuburbansettingsareespeciallyaggressive.Asuddenstrikeatabicyclistorjoggercancauseafallandpossibleinjury.Never approach a raptor’s nest.Itisillegal,potentiallydestructivetotheeggsoryoung,anddangerousforyou.Evenexperiencedresearchershavebeeninjuredbytheblowsortalonsofsuchbirdswhileworkingatnestsites.
Handling birdsPeoplefrequentlyattempttoaidinjuredbirds.Whiletheirconcernisadmirable,birdsmustbehandledproperlytoavoidfurtherinjurytothebirdandinjurytothepersonhelping.Red-tailed hawk
Bald eagle
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Calmalargebirdbycoveringitwithaboxorblanket.Ifyouplantomovethebirdbyhand,restrainitswingsandfeet.Thebillofahawkorowlmaylookthreatening,butitistheneedle-sharptalonsthatmustbecontrolled.Ifthebirdisinnoimmedi-atedangerorcanbecoaxedorputintoalargebox,leavethehandlingtoanexperiencedrehabilitatororbiologist.
MammalsFearsof“wildanimals”areusuallydirectedatmammals.Somemammalshavetheteeth,claws,orsizetoinjureorevenkillpeople,buttheyrarelydo.Bynature,wildmammalsavoidhumancontact,andoutrightattacksarealmostunknown.Whenattacksdooccur,theyalmostalwaysinvolvecornered,sick,orinjuredanimals,ormothersdefend-ingtheiryoung.OnlyoneWisconsinmammalisvenomous:theshort-tailedshrew.
Afewfactsandcommonsenserulesshouldguideyouractionswhendealingwithanywildmammal:
• Unusualbehavior—suchastameness,erraticmovement,andactivityduringunusualhoursoftheday—suggeststhatamammalissickorinjuredandshouldbeavoided.Severaldiseasescommoninwildmammalsaretransmissibletohumansandarepotentiallydangerous.Contactalicensedre-
habilitator,abiologist,orananimalprotectionorganizationsuchastheHumaneSocietyifyoubelieveananimalneedshelp.
• Donotencourageorallowchil-drentocollect,touch,ormakepetsofyoungormaturewildanimals.
• Donotcorner,grab,orthreatenanywildmammal—evenoneassmallasamouse.Mostwillfighttenaciouslytodefendthemselves.Arabbit,squirrel,orothermammalcandeliveranastybiteorscratch.
Short-tailed shrewsTheshort-tailedshrew(Blarina brevi-cauda),foundthroughoutWisconsin,isasmall,dark-grayanimalabout4to6incheslong,withashorttail.Itsfurisveryshortandsleek,andithassmalleyesandapointedsnout.Short-tailedshrewsareoftencon-fusedwithmeadowmice(Microtussp.).Allshrewsarecarnivorous,andtheshort-tailedshrewusesitsvenomoussalivatohelpsubdueprey(suchasmice),whichmaybeaslargeasitis.Thebiteofashort-tailedshrewmaycausepainfulswellingbutisnotlifethreatening.
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BatsBatsareinteresting,beneficialcrea-tures.Mostcommonfearsofbatsarenotbasedonfacts.Notallbatsarerabid;batsdonotbitetoconsumeblood(vampirebatsdonotdwellanywherenearWisconsin);andbatswillnotintentionallyentanglethem-selvesinlonghair.However,batsshouldneverbehandled.Theriskofrabiesissmallbutreal.Ifbittenbyabat,seekmedicalattention.Ifyouhaveproblemswithunwantedbatcolonies,consulttheUW-ExtensionpublicationBats: Information for Wisconsin Homeowners(G3096).
SkunksEveryonerecognizesthedistinctiveblackandwhitepatternofaskunkassomethingtoavoid,andwithgoodreason!Stripedskunks(Mephitis mephitis)arefoundthroughoutWisconsininavarietyofhabitats,includingbackyardsandparks.Anencounterwithaskunkoftenresultsinasmellysituationforpeopleandpets.
Asadefensivestrategy,skunksusepowerfulmusclestoforcefullyexpelanoilysprayfromglandsontheirbackside,andthestrategyworksratherwell.Theycanprojectthesprayratheraccuratelyupto10feetbeforeitbecomesmoreofamist,effectiveforaboutanother10feet.Adirecthitintheeyescreatesanintenseburningsensation.Ahitanywhereelseonthebodyoronclothesjustcreatesasmellymess.Evenifyouarenothitbyspray,theentireareawillsmell“likeskunk”forquiteawhile.
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Ifsprayed,washclothesandpetswithamixtureof3%hydrogenper-oxidesolution(fromthedrugstore),¼cupbakingsoda,andateaspoonofliquidhandsoap.Becarefulnottogetthismixtureinyoureyesoryourpet’seyes,andcheckforcolorfastnessonclothes.Oncethesmellhasbeenneutralized,rinsethepetoritemofclothingthoroughly.Also,ifstoringextramixtureforfutureuse,donotkeepitinasealedcontainer,asitwillbecomeexplosiveifcon-fined.Warm,soapywaterandcom-mercialskunkdeodorizerssuchasSkunk-OfforOdor-Solwillalsowork.Avarietyofhomeremediessuchastomatojuicemayprovidesomerelief,butdon’tcountonit.
Youcanminimizetheriskofbeingsprayedbygivinganyskunkawideberth.Unlessprovoked,skunksarequitedocile.Askunkbiteispotentiallymuchworsethanbeingsprayed,asskunksareamaincarrierofrabies.Ifyouarebittenbyaskunk,seekmedicalattention.
PorcupinesPorcupines(Erethizon dorsatum)arelarge,slow-moving,forest-dwellingrodentsthataremostabundantinthenorthernhalfofWisconsin.“Porkies”arewellprotectedbyadensecoatofsharp,stiffquills—thousandsofthem.Contrarytopopularbelief,porcupinescannotthrowordirectquillstodefendthemselves.Thequillsareloosely
attachedtotheanimal’sskin,sotheyflyaboutastheanimalmovessuddenlyorlashesoutwithitsquill-coveredtail.Ifapersonorpetcomesindirectcontactwithaporcupine,alargenumberofquillscanbecomeembeddedintheperson’shandsorthepet’smouth.
Eachquillhastinybarbsnearitstip(asonafishhook),soonceaquillisembedded,itrequiressomeforceandapairofpliersorforcepstoremoveit.Anybitsofquillleftembeddedcanleadtopersistentpainorinfection.Apetwithmanyquillsinitsfaceormouthshouldbetakentoavetfortreatment.Porcupinesmoveveryslowly,arenotaggressive,andshouldbeeasytodistinguishfromanyotheranimal.Thustheyshouldbeeasytoavoid.
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CoyotesCoyoteshavebecomeaconcerninsomeurbanandsuburbanareasinWisconsin.Theyhavebeenknowntokillcatsandsmalldogsandmayattacklargerdogs.Keepallpetsunderclosesupervisionanddonotallowthemtoroamfreely,especiallyinareasknowntobefrequentedbycoyotes.
Neverfeedcoyotesordoanythingthatcausesthemtoloosetheirnaturalfearofhumans.Theriskofacoyoteattackonapersonislow,butitdoesexist.Youngchildrenshouldbecloselysupervisedinareascoyotesareknowntofrequent,wherecoyoteshavedisplayedlittlefearofhumans,orwhereattacksonpetshavebeendocumented.
Inthepresenceofacoyote,shout,makenoise,orthrowsomethinginitsdirection.Reportcoyoteproblemsandencounterstolocalauthorities.
Gray wolvesGraywolves,ortimberwolves,havemadeatremendouscomebacksince1960,whentheywereconsideredextinctinWisconsin.ThecomebackstartedwithafewindividualsthatmovedintoWisconsinfromMinne-sota.By1980,therewereperhaps25wolvesinWisconsin,andtheyweredesignatedanendangeredspecies.Fromthatpointon,protection,publiceducation,andthewolvesthemselvescontributedtoasteadyincreasetoabout700animalsby2010.InWisconsin,mostwolvesliveinthenorthernhalfofthestate,buttherehavebeenregularsightingsofwolvesinmanycountiesallthewaytotheIllinoisborder.
Wolfnumbersandmanagementarecontentiousissues,aggravatedbywolfdepredationsonlivestock,huntingdogs,andpets,andbythepotentialthreattohumansaswolvesbecomemorehabituatedtohumansandtheiractivities.Wolveshavebeenonandofftheendangeredspecieslistinrecentyears,whichcomplicatesresourcemanagers’responsetowolfproblems.
Wolf
Coyote
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WhilewolvesdokilllivestockanddogsinWisconsin,mostdoginci-dentsinvolvehoundsortrailingdogsrunningthroughwolfterritories.Therisktobird-huntingdogsorpetsunderclosecontroloftheirownersisminimalbutdoesexist.Dogownersshouldknowthegenerallocationofwolfpacks,especiallythosewithahistoryofaggressivebehavior.TheDNRcanprovideyouwiththisinformation.Therehavebeendocu-mentedattacksonhumansinNorthAmerica,buttheyareveryrare.Andnotuntilrecentlywasafatalattackdocumented,innorthernCanada.
Potentialproblemsbetweenhumansandwolvesareworsenedbyill-advisedfeedingandotherhumanactivitythatcauseswolvestolosetheirfearofpeople.Itislegaltoprotectdomesticanimalsonyourproperty,anditislegaltoprotectyourselfandothersanywhereifthreatenedwithawolfattack.TheDNR,theInternationalWolfCenter,andotherorganizationsprovidedetailedinformationonlivingwithwolves.Pleasereportencounterswithfearlessoraggressivewolvestoalocalgovernmentoffice(DNRorUSDAWildlifeServices).
DeerDeerareabundantthroughoutWis-consin.Deer-vehiclecollisionsresultinhumandeathandinjury,millionsofdollarsinpropertyloss,deathandinjurytothedeer(35,000ormoreannuallyinWisconsin),andmentalanguishforthedriver.Thereisnofoolproofwaytoeliminatedeer-vehiclecollisions.Fencing,reduc-ingthedeerpopulation,interceptfeeding,andmechanicalgadgetsallhavelimitations.
Thebestadviceonavoidingdeer-vehiclecollisionsistorecognizetheriskanddrivedefensively.Knowtheseasonswhentheriskofencounter-ingdeerishighest(fallandspring),thetimesofgreatestdeeractivity(earlymorningandlateevening),andtheareasofgreatestrisk(oftenmarkedbydeer-crossingsigns).Slowingdownandbeingalertfordeerwilldomoretoreducecollisionsthananythingelse.Motorcyclistsshouldbeespeciallycautious,asthereislittleprotectionforthedriverinacollision.
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Black bearsBlackbearsarelarge,powerfulanimals.Likethewolfpopulation,thebearpopulationhasbeengrowingandexpandingsouthwardinWis-consin.Researchin2007and2008suggeststhattherecouldbe30,000ormorebearslivinginWisconsin—twiceasmanyaswerepreviouslythoughttoliveinthestate.
Bearscausedamagetosomecrops,beehives,andstructures,andtheyannoycampersandhomeownersintheirpersistentsearchforfood.Theyarecapableofinjuringorkillinghumans,butattacksarerare.Whenanattackdoesoccur,itgener-atesheadlinenews,resultinginadistortedperceptionofthetrueriskposedbyblackbears.
Mostbearswillfleeatanysignofhumans,perhapsbecausetheyremainapopulargameanimalinWisconsin.Ifyouseeabear,yell,wave,orbangonsomethingtoalertthebeartoyourpresence.Abearhabituatedtopeopleatacampgroundorparkmaybemorereluctanttoleaveafoodsource.Backawayfromsuchanencounter.Eliminateanyattractantsforbearsbyproperlyhandlingandstoringitemssuchasfood,garbage,andbirdseed.
Intheunlikelyeventofanattack,pepperspraymayrepelthebear.Rememberthatbearsclimbwell,soatreeisnotagoodrefugefromanattack.Mostexpertsrecommendthatyouvigorouslyfightbackagainstanactualattack.Formoreinformation,seetheResourceslistattheendofthispublication.
Insects & other invertebrates
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Therearemorethan20,000differ-entinsects,spiders,andrelatedcreaturesthatyoucouldmeet
duringasummerwalkinWisconsin.Over95%ofthemarecompletelyharmless,andlessthan1%oftherestgooutoftheirwaytotormentpeople.Insectsandotherinverte-bratesattackpeoplefortworeasons:toobtainfoodandtodefendthemselves.
Mosquitoes,deerflies,horseflies,blackflies,ticks,andchiggersrequireanimalorhumanbloodasfood.Anyotherbiteorstingisadefensiveorprotectivereactionbytheinsect.Mostinsects,suchasadultbutter-flies,moths,anddragonflies,arenotcapableofbitingorstingingpeople.Butifyouareunfamiliarwithaninsect,itisbettertoobserveitratherthanpickitup.
Stinging insectsWhilesomeinsectsdosting,othersjustseemasiftheydo.Someinsectshaveabitethatcanfeellikeasting.Manyinsectsfeedoneachotherorsimilarsmallcreatures,andsuchpredatorshavepowerfulenzymesandproteinsintheirsalivathatparalyze,kill,ordigesttheirprey.Ifoneofthesepredaciouscreaturesismishandled,itcaninflictapainfulbitethatmaytaketimetoheal.Thebitemaybemistakenforasting,butnostingerisleftbehind.Theonlytreatmentrequiredistoputiceonthesiteifswellingdevelops.
Sometypesofhairyorspinycaterpil-larsarecoveredwithurticating,orstinging,hairs.Thesehairscontainapoisoncellgland,andifrubbed,thehairswillbreak,releasingenzymesthatcauseblisters,burns,orrashes.Thesensationsfeelsimilartothosecausedbyastingingnettleplant.
Bees and waspsBeesandwasps(andsomeants)haveaspecialdefensiveweapon—thestinger.Bynature,theseinsectsarenotaggressive,buttheycanbecomesoiftheirnestsaredis-turbedoriftheyaretrappedorconfined.
Thehoneybeestingerisbarbedmuchlikeafishhook.Thehoneybeefliesawayafterstingingbutleavesitsstingerandpoisonsacbehind,whicheventuallykillsthebee.Themuscularpoisonsacwillcontinuetopumpvenom,soremovethestingerpromptlybyscrapingitwithyourfingernail,aknife,oraplasticcard.Donottrytopickthestingeroffwithyourfingersbecausethissqueezesthepoisonsac,injectingmoreenzymesandpoisonsintoyourskin.
Honeybee
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Allotherstingingbeesandwaspshaveunbarbedstingersandcanstingrepeatedlyifgiventheopportunity.Theamountofvenominjectedwillaffecttheseverityofthereaction.Mostspeciesofbeesandwaspswillstingiftheyfeelthreat-enedbutwillallowyoutocalmlybrushthemawayifyoumoveslowly.
Yellow jacketsareresponsibleforamarkedincreaseinstingsandrelatedproblemsfromearlyAugustthroughSeptember.Thisblackandyellowwaspisslightlysmallerthanthehoneybee.Someyellowjacketsbuildnestsofpaperinrodentburrowsorothercavities.Inspringandearlysummer,whencoloniesaresmall,theysurvivebyfeedingonotherinsects.Inlatesummer,whenthecolonieshaveincreasedinsize,yellowjacketsareforcedtoseekextranourishmentintheformofsugarorprotein.Thus,theycompetewithanyonetryingtoeatasandwich,pickariperaspberry,ordrinkacanofsodaoutdoors.
Takecarewheneatingordrinkingoutdoorsduringthelatesummer.Keepfoodcoveredasmuchaspos-sible,anddisposeoffoodscrapsaftermeals.Topreventyellowjacketsfromforagingneargarbage,puttrashingarbagebinswithtight-fittinglidsorsealitinairtightbags.
STINGSSomesimplemeasurescanhelpyouavoidstingsfrombeesandwasps:
• Don’twearperfumes,hairsprays,suntanlotions,orcosmeticsthatmayattractunwantedattention.
• Don’twalkbarefootoutside.
• Avoidoutdoorcookingandeatingduringtheyellowjacketseason.
• Ifabeeorwasplandsonyou,staycalmandgentlybrushitaway.Suddenmovementsincreaseyourchancesofgettingstung.
Ifyouarestung,youwillfirstfeelintenseburningatthesiteofthesting,followedbyswellingandsevereitchingafterseveralminutes.Swellingmaybelocalizedorinvolveanentirelimb.Applyingiceorcold
Yellow jacket
18
compressestothesitewilldecreaseswellingandslowthemovementoftoxins.Othertreatments,suchashouseholdmeattenderizerorcom-mercialpreparations,willhelpreducepainandneutralizetheproteinsandaminoacidsinthevenom.
Farmoreseriousaretheallergicorsystemicreactionsexperiencedbyabout1%ofthepopulation.Symp-tomssuchasthroatorchestconstric-tion,dizziness,laboredbreathing,fever,confusion,wheezing,oruncon-sciousnessindicateseriousreactionsthatrequiremedicalintervention.Anaphylactic,orhypersensitive,reactionscanbefatal.Suchreactionsoftenoccurwithinthefirsthourafterastingbutmaybedelayedforseveralhours.
Peoplewhoaresensitivetostingsshouldcarryemergencymedicalkitsatalltimesduringthespringandsummer.Apersonwhoissensitivetoonetypeofbeestingmaynotneces-sarilybesensitivetothestingsofallbeesorwasps.Therearemethods
ofdesensitizingpeopletovariousstings.Consultaphysicianformoreinformation.
Blood-feeding insectsBlood-feedinginsectsareknownforrequiringhumanoranimalbloodasfood,butthemalesofmanyspeciesinthisgroupactuallyfeedonnectarandplantjuices.Inmanycases,onlythefemalesrequirebloodmealsbecausetheyneedtheproteinfrombloodtoproducefertileeggs.
MosquitoesMorethan50mosquitospeciesliveinWisconsin.Onlythefemalesofthespeciesrequireabloodmeal.ThemostnotoriousmosquitoescomefromthegenusAedes—thefloodwatermosquitoes.Ifapondorriverbankdriesup,theireggscanremaindormantformonthsoryearsuntiltheycomeintocontactwithwateragain.Adultsappearabouttwoweeksaftertheeggscomeintocontactwithwater,andupto100mosquitoescanemergepersquarefootofwatersurfaceperdayingoodbreedinghabitat.Morethan60%oftheseadultswillmigrateapproxi-mately10to20milesfromtheirbreedingsiteinsearchofabloodmeal.Femalemosquitoeslivefor3to6weeksandcantakemultiplebloodmealsduringthattime.
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Mosquitoesaremostactiveunderlowlightconditions,yetsomeare“daybiters.”Windsabove10milesperhourforcemosquitoestolandandrest;whenthewindsdiedown,theybecomeactiveagain.Avoidbrushy,shadedsites,whichhavethelowlightandpoorairmovementthatattractsmosquitoes.Tempera-turesbelow50˚Fpreventmosqui-toesfromflying,butitusuallytakesthreeorfourkillingfroststoendthemosquitoseason.
Mosquitoesusecarbondioxide,lacticacid,andheattofindtheirhosts.Themoreactiveyouare,themoreoftheseattractantsyougiveoff.Individualsdifferinboththeirattractivenesstomosquitoesandthewaytheirbodiesreacttoabite.Darkcolorsandsomefragrancesalsoattractcertainmosquitoes.
Evenifyousitonasunny,windyhillsideandwearlight-coloredclothing,youcanstillbebittenbyamosquito.Otherthancoveringup,theonlypracticalwaytoavoidmosquitobitesistousearepellentspray,cream,orlotion,whichdoesnotkillmosquitoesbutdoespreventthemfromfindingyou.TheactiveingredientsinrepellentsincludeDEET(N,N-diethyl-metatoluamide),Picaridin[1-Piperidinecarboxylicacid,2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-,1-methyl-propylester],soybeanoil,citronellaoil,andOilofLemonEucalyptus[p-menthane3,8-diol(PMD)].Effec-tivenesscanvaryfrom10minutesto
5hours,dependingontheproduct,formulation,anduser’samountofphysicalactivity.Notallrepellentsaresafeforuseonskin,andconcen-tratedrepellentsshouldnotbeusedonsmallchildren.Somerepellentscandissolveorstainwatchcrystals,eyeglasses,andpaintedorvarnishedsurfaces,includingfishingrodsandcars.Evencoverageisimportant.Mosquitonetting(23to26meshesperinch)maycomeinhandyforovernighttrips.
Thewoundofamosquitobiteisminor.Theintenseitchingandswellingisanallergicresponsetothemosquito’ssalivarysecretions.Varioustreatmentssuchasrubbingalcoholormildammoniawillhelprelieveitching.
Althoughmosquitoestransmitmanyseriousdiseasesthroughouttheworld,thereareonlytwomosquito-bornediseasesseenregularlyinWisconsin:LaCrosseencephalitisandWestNilevirus.LaCrosseencephalitisisavirusthatcancausecomplicationsinchildrenunder12yearsold.WestNilevirusaffectsbirds,horses,andpeopleandismostoftenalatesummerandfallproblem.Mostpeopledonotbecomeillfromtheseviruses,andthebestwaytopreventproblemsistoreducemosquitobitesbyavoidinginfestedareas,wearingprotectiveclothing,andusinginsectrepellent.
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Deerflies and horsefliesDeerfliesandhorsefliesarelarge,robust,somewhathairybitingfliesthatareupto1½incheslong.Manyspecieshavebrightgreenorpurpleeyes;deerflieshavedarkbandsontheirwings.Thesefliesfeedduringthedayandaremostabundantinlow,moist,woodedareasfromlateMayuntilSeptember.Theybreedinthemudofponds,swamps,andditches.Adultfemalefliesareverystrongfliers,andtheirbiteispainfulbecausetheymakeadeepwoundastheycontinuallystabtheskinwithknife-likemouthparts.
Deerfliesandhorsefliesaremostactiveonwarm,sunnydays.Toprotectyourself,reduceexposedskinbycoveringupwithalight,long-sleevedshirtandwearingahatorcap.Applyingtickormosquitorepel-lentstoexposedskillwillprovideaddedprotection.
BlackfliesBlackfliesaresmall,weak-flying,grayorblackhumpbackedgnats,aboutthesizeoffruitflies.Theseday-bitingfliesbreedinmovingwaterinrivers,streams,andcreeks.“Buffalognats,”astheyaresometimescalled,bitepainlesslyonanyexposedpartofthebodybutoftenprefertheforehead,hairline,orwhereverclothingfitssnugly,suchasatcollars,cuffs,andsocklines.Theyarepersistentandmaycrawlintoyourears,nostrils,orhair.
Ablackflybiteappearsasasmall,red,centralspotsurroundedbyanareathatisredandswollen.Becauseblackfliesuseenzymesthatpreventbloodfromclotting,asmalltrickleofdriedbloodmayremainatthewound.Thebitesiteoftenremainsirritatedforseveraldays,andsomepeopledevelopswollenglandsaroundtheearsandneck.
Wearingahatwillputastoptoscalpbites.Repellentspreventbitingbutwillnotstopblackfliesfromflyingaroundyourhead.Canoeistsandpeoplefishinginprimeblackflyhabitatmayhavetotapetheircuffsshutanduseheadnetstoremaincomfortable.
Thenumbersofmostblackflyspeciespeakovera2-to3-weekperiodeachyear.Stayinginareaswithgoodairmovementandawayfromstreambankswillreduceattacks.
Horsefly
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Biting midgesThereisagroupoftinybitingmidgesknownlocallyaspunkies,sand-flies,andno-see-ums.Theburningandirritationtheirbitescauseisfargreaterthantheirsizewouldsuggest.Theirweakflyingabilityusuallylimitsandlocalizesproblemareas.Repellentswillhelpprotectyoufromtheirbites,aswillmosquitonettingfortentsandsleepingbags.
TicksWhatisaMaywalkinthewoodswithoutticks?Ticksareeight-leggedblood-feedingrelativesofmites.Theirthick,leatheryskinandslowmovementsallowthemto“lieinwait”formonthsontheundersidesofleavesorontwigs.Tickhabitatincludeslonggrassorbrushyareasneargametrails,hikingpaths,andsiteswithlargesmall-rodentpopula-tions.Bothmaleandfemaleticksgrabontopantsorsocksandstartsearchingforaplacetofeed.Oftenthefirstskintheyencounteristheneckarea,givingpeopletheimpres-sionthatticksdropfromabove.
Tickfeedingismuchmorecompli-catedthanaquickbite.Ticksattachpainlesslybymeansofabarbedhypostome(seefigure)andwillremainattachedfordaysifleftundis-turbed.Only2oftheapproximately15tickspeciesinWisconsinnormallybitehumans.
Toremoveanattachedtick,graspitwithtweezersasclosetotheheadaspossibleandpullgentlyandsteadily.Takecarenottobreakthemouth-parts.Ifleftbehind,theycancauseinfection.Theuseofhomeremediessuchaspetroleumjelly,lighterfluid,hotmatches,andnailpolishremoverdonothelpremovalandcancauseothercomplications.
Preventingtickproblemsstartswithwearinglong-sleevedshirtsandpants.Tuckpantlegsinsidesocksorbootstocutdownonexposedskin.RepellentscontainingDEETorinsecticides/repellentscontainingpermethrincanbesprayedonsocks,pants,andshoes.
AMERICAN DOG TICKSWhatmostpeoplecallthe“woodtick”istheAmericandogtick,Dermacentor vari-abilis.Theyarereddishbrownwithsilverorwhitemarkingsandrangeupto¼inchinlength.AmericandogtickactivitystartsinearlyMayandslowsdowninearlyJuly.Immatureticksfeedprimarilyonrodents,andanormallifecycletakes2years.
hypostome palp
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AmericandogtickstransmitRockyMountainspottedfeverinotherpartsoftheUnitedStates,butthisdiseaserarelyappearsinWisconsin.
DEER TICKS Thedeertick,Ixodes scapularis,issmallerthantheAmeri-candogtickandlacksthesilverorwhitemarkingsonitsback.Adultsandimmaturedeerticksfeedonhumansandpets.Deerticksseemtobemostcommoninwoodedareaswithalushunderstoryofbramblesandothershrubbymaterial,andtheirseasonextendsfromearlyAprilthroughNovember.
DeerticksaretheonlyknowncarrierofLymediseaseinWisconsin.Itisimportanttorememberthatittakesthetickanumberofhoursoffeeding(24ormore)totransmitLymedisease.Thismeansthatpromptlyremovingthedeertickwillpreventyoufromcontractingthedisease.Routinetotal-bodytickchecksshouldbecomeadailyritual.
Ifyouexperienceflu-likesymptomsoraspreadingrashappearsaroundatickbitesitewithin2weeks,contactyourfamilyphysician.Prompttreat-mentwithantibioticshasbeenverysuccessfulintreatingLymedisease.
ChiggersChiggersaretiny,red,parasiticmitesthatarescarcelyvisible.Theyliveondeer,mice,andbirds.Onhumans,chiggerbitescauseintenseitchingandsmall,reddishweltsontheskin.Theymostoftenappearwhereclothingfitstightlyagainstthebody,suchastheankle,waist,upperarm,orbehindtheknee.Weltslastfor3to10daysandoftenbecomeinfectedafterbeingscratched.Humansarenotasuitablehost,andoftenthemiteleavesordiesbeforeaskinreactionisevident.
Chiggersaremostnumerousinbrushysitesorlonggrassthathaslargerodentpopulations.Ifyouhavebeenexposedtochiggers,takeahot,soapybathorshowerassoonaspossible.Avigorousrubdownwithatowelwillremoveandkillunattachedlarvae.Washallcloth-ingbeforewearingitagain.Variousantisepticsorlocalanestheticproductscanbefoundatdrugstoresfortemporaryreliefoftheitching.Topreventchiggerbites,usemosquitorepellents,especiallyalongcuffs,waistbands,collars,andankles.Avoidsittingorrecliningonthegroundininfestedsites.
Plants
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Wisconsinishometoover3,000plantspecies.Someoftheseplantshaveundesir-
abletraitsthatcausethemtobelabeledasunwantedplants,orweeds.Mostoftheseweedscompetewithcropandlandscapeplantsorarevisuallyunattractiveinplaceswhereaestheticsareimportant.However,someWisconsinweedsgobeyondsimplybeingbothersomeandhavetraitsthatareactuallytroublesometopeople.Thesetraitsincludebeingtoxic(tobothanimalsandpeople),causingskinirritationandblistering,producingpollenthatcauseshayfever,andhavingthornsorspinesthatattachtoclothingandhair.
Peopleandanimalscangenerallyavoidthehazardsimposedbytheseweedssimplybystayingawayfromtheplants.However,toavoidcontactwithpoisonousplants,youmustfirstbeabletorecognizethem.Therearemanyexcellentpublicationsavail-abletohelpyouidentifyandcontrolplants,usuallyfoundinthegarden-ingornaturesectionsofbookstoresandlibraries.Consulttheserefer-encesformoredetailedinformationonhazardousplants.
Plants that are poisonous when ingestedOnlyeatplantsthathavebeeniden-tifiedasnontoxic.Ifsomeoneingestsaplantthatistoxic,calltheWis-consinPoisonCenterimmediately(1-800-222-1222)andfollowthecen-ter’sinstructions.Formoreinforma-tiononingestedplantpoisons,visittheWisconsinPoisonCenterwebsite:www.wisconsinpoison.org.
Poison hemlock
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Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum)
Socrateswasputtodeathbydrinkingpoisonhemlock—a“cupofdeath.”Allpartsofthisplant(amemberoftheparsleyfamily)containthetoxicalkaloidconiine.Socrates’lastdrinkwasmadefromunripehemlockseeds.
Poisonhemlockhasseveralcommonnames,includingdeadlyhemlock,poisonparsley,poisonstinkweed,andsnakeweed.Theplantgrowsinmoistsites,suchasalongstreamsandinwetditches.
Likeotherbiennialplants,poisonhemlockproducesarosetteofleavesandafleshy,parsnip-likerootthefirstyear.Initssecondyear,itgrowstoaheightof7to10feet,flowers,producesseed,anddies.Theremaybefourorfiveleavesonastem,withfinelydivided,toothedmargins.Theleavesarearrangedinanalternatepatternalongthestem.
Theflowersarewhiteandlooksimilartothoseofwildcarrot.Anindividualflowermaybenowiderthan1/10inch.Seedsarefoundinpairsandarepalebrown,ribbed,andhighlypoisonous.Akeycharacteris-ticinidentifyingpoisonhemlockisthepresenceofpurplishblotchesonthestem,whichisalsohollowandbranchesmanytimes.
Allpartsofthisplantarepoisonouswheneaten.
Spotted water hemlock (Cicuta maculata)
Spottedwaterhemlockbelongstotheparsleyfamilyandisalsoreferredtoasbeaverpoison,children’sbane,muskratweed,musquashroot,spottedcowbane,andspottedhemlock.Itgrowsinswampsandlowlands,ofteninornearshallowwater.
Spottedwaterhemlockisaperen-nialplantthatreproducesbyseedandtuberousroots.Thestemsare3to5feettallandarestreakedwithpurplishspots.Branchingoccursonlytowardthetopoftheplant,andleafletsarelinearwithsaw-toothedmargins.Individualflowersaresmallandwhiteandarearrangedinclusters.
Allpartsoftheplantarepoisonouswheneaten,especiallytheroots.Bothrootsandseedshaveadistinc-tiveparsnip-likeodor.
Spotted water hemlock
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Bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)
BittersweetnightshadeisalsoknownasEuropeanbittersweet,bluenightshade,climbingnightshade,woodynightshade,poisonberry,andscarletberry.Itgrowsinmoistsoilsandontreesinwoodsandorchards.Italsoclimbsonshrubs,fences,andbuildings.
Bittersweetnightshadeisaslender,woodyvine.Theplanthassimpleleaveswithoneortwolobes.Itpro-ducespurpleflowers,andthefruitisasoft,roundberrythatisgreenwhenimmatureandbrightredwhenmature.
Amemberofthenightshadefamily,bittersweetnightshade’sleavesandberriescontainsolanine,analkaloidthatistoxicwheningested.
Black nightshade (Solanum ptycanthum)
Deadlynightshade,gardennight-shade,andpoisonberryareothercommonnamesforblacknight-shade,amemberofthenightshadefamily.Theplantgrowsingardens,fields,andwasteareas.
Blacknightshadeisanannualplantthatcomesupfromseedinspringorearlysummeranddiesinfallafterthekillingfrosts.Ithassimplealternateleaves,whiteflowers,andberriesthataregreenwhenimma-tureandblackwhenmature.
Thefruitscontainatoxicalkaloid,solanine,whichmakesthemmildlytoxicwheningested.
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Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium)
Jimsonweed,anothermemberofthenightshadefamily,isanannualplantthatreproducesbyseed.OthernamesforitincludeJamestownweed,madapple,thornapple,andstinkwort.Jimsonweedgrowsinsunnylocationsandisoftenfoundinfeedlots,hogyards,andbarnyards.ItiscommoninthesouthernthirdofWisconsin.
Theplantgrowstoaheightof2to4feet,andthestembranchestowardthetop.Itslarge,coarseleavesalternatealongthestemandbranches,andtheyhaveadistinctive,unpleasantodor.Thefunnel-shapedflowersofjimsonweedarelarge(2to5incheslong)andaretintedwhitetopink.Theplant’segg-shapedseedpodcontainsmanyseedsandiscoveredwithshort,stiffspines.Itmeasuresabout1inchindiameter.
Boththefoliageandseedsofjim-sonweedarepoisonous,astheplantcontainsanalkaloidthatisastomachpoison.Somepeopledeveloparashfromtouchingtheleaves.
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Plants that are poisonous on contactWhilesomeplantsarepoisonouswheningested,othersaredangerouswhensimplytouched.Ifyou’reenter-ingareaswhereplantsthatpoisononcontactarepresent,wearpantsandalong-sleevedshirttoprotectyourskin.Ifyouexperienceskinirritation,washtheaffectedareawithsoapandwaterassoonaspossible.
Poison ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii)
Poisonivy,amemberofthecashewfamily,growsaseitheralow,woodyshruboraclimbingvine.Itisalsocalledpoisoncreeperorthree-leafedivy.Poisonivyisfoundinpastures,roadbanks,fencerows,parks,beaches,campgrounds,anddampforests,
especiallyalongrivers.Theshrubvarietygrowsoutintheopen,whilethevineclimbstreesandfences.
Theleavesofpoisonivyaredividedintothreeleaflets,soheedtheoldadage,“Leafletsthree,letitbe.”Thelateraltwoleafletsarefasteneddirectlytotheleafstem,orpetiole,whiletheterminalleafletisborneonashortleafstalk.Thethreeleavesmayvaryinsize,shape,andappear-ance:Theedgesmayhaveasmoothmarginorbetoothedorlobed.Theleavesmaybesmoothorslightlyhairyandappearglossyordull.Theymayturnyellow,orange,orredbeforetheydropoffinthefall.
Theflowersaregreenishyellowandoccurinclustersalongthestem,frequentlyhiddenbyleaves.Thefruitisayellowish-whiteroundberry,withstripesthatmakeitresembleapeeledorange.Theberriesareabout¼inchindiameter.
Allplantparts—roots,stems,leaves,flowers,andfruits—containoilsthatarepoisonoustoabouthalfthehumanpopulation.Poisonivycausesdermatitisintheformofskinirrita-tionandblisters,followedbyscabs.Symptomsusuallyoccurwithin24hoursofexposure.
Poison ivy
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Poisonivyistoxicallyear,whichmeansthatitsdry,fallenleavesarejustaspoisonousasthegreen,growingplant.Beespeciallycarefulwhenburningpoisonivy.Inhal-ingthesmokecancauseaseverereaction.
Birds,notsensitivetotheplant,eattheberriesandspreadtheseeds.Forhumans,eatingaleaf,oranypartoftheplant,doesnotconferimmunity.Ifexposedtopoisonivy,washtheexposedareawithwaterandregularorspecializedsoap(suchasTecnu)assoonaspossible.Thisisthemosteffectivemethodtopreventarashfromoccurring.
Poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix)
Poisonsumacisalsocalledpoisonash,poisondogwood,poisonelder,andswampsumac.Theplantgrowsasashruborsmalltreebutneverasavine.Itrangesinheightfrom5to25feet.
Poisonsumacgrowsinwetareas,suchasfloodplains,swamps,andbogs.Itdiffersfromstaghornsumac,thecommonsumacoftenseenonhighwaybanks.Staghornsumachasbrightredberries,whilepoisonsumacproducesgreenish-whiteberriessimilartothoseofpoisonivy.Birdseatanddistributetheseeds.Theplant’sleavesturnorangishredinthefall.
Contactwithpoisonsumaccausesblisterswithin24hours.Aswithpoisonivy,ifexposed,washtheexposedareawithregularorspe-cializedsoapandwaterassoonaspossible.
Poison sumac
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Wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)
Amemberoftheparsnipfamily,wildparsnipisaplantthatreproducesbyseed.Itisalsoknownasbird’snest,hart’seye,andmadnip.Wildparsnipisverycommoninroadsideditches,wastelands,andungrazedgrasslands.
Theplantinitiallyproducesarosetteoflargeleavesthatsomewhatresembleceleryleavesandalarge,fleshytaproot.Insubsequentyears,wildparsnipdevelopsastem3to5feettall,producesflowers,gener-atesseed,anddies.Leaveshavetoothedmarginsandalternatealongtheelongatedstem.Flowersarearrangedinroundedclusterscalledumbels.Eachflowerhasfivesmall,yellowpetals.
Everyoneissensitivetowildparsnip,butyoucanbrushagainstwildparsnipplantsandnotbeaffected.Parsnipisonlydangerouswhentheplantsapfrombrokenleavesorstemsgetsonyourskin.
Incasesofmildexposure,affectedareasturnredandfeelsunburned.Inmoreseriouscases,theskinfirstturnsredandthenblisters.Thesapofwildparsnipcancausesevereskinblistersincertainpeopleifskinisexposedtosunlightwhenthesapiscontacted.Blistersformadayortwoaftersunexposure,andsoonaftertheblistersrupture,theskinstartstoheal.However,darkredorbrownishscarscanremainintheburnedareasformonthstoyears.Animalscanalsogetparsnipburnsiftheyhavelittlehairandlightlypigmentedskin—characteristicsthatallowthesapandsunlighttoreachtheskin.
Ifexposedtowildparsnipsap,washthecontaminatedareasthoroughlyassoonaspossible.Theburningsensationcanberelievedbycover-ingaffectedareaswithacool,wetcloth.Ifyouexperienceblistering,trytodelaytherupturingoftheblistersaslongaspossible,asblistersprotecttheskin.Incasesofextensiveblister-ing,consultadoctor.
Toavoidexposure,weargloves,longpants,andlong-sleevedshirts.Plan-ningwildparsnipcontrolactivitiesfortheearlyeveningwillminimizesunlightandthusminimizethelikeli-hoodofblistering.
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Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)
Stingingnettleisalsocalledslendernettleortallnettle,anditbelongstothenettlefamily.Itgrowsinfullsunindamp,fertilesoilandisfrequentlyfoundalongcanalsinmucksoils,aroundbarnyards,andinfencerowsthroughoutWisconsin.
Stingingnettleisaperennialplantthatreproducesbyseedandundergroundrootstocks.Theplantgrows2to7feettallandisslightlybranchednearthetop.Itsstemsarestiff,rigid,andcoveredwithstinginghairs.Leavesopposeeachotheronthesquarestemandareverydarkgreen.Theyaretypically3to6incheslongwithsaw-toothedmarginsandarecoveredwithstinginghairs.Theflowerslackpetalsandgrowinclustersintheleafaxils.
Thestinginghairsonthestemsandleavesoftheplantcancausewelts,inflammation,andaburningsensa-tionwhentheycomeincontactwithskin.Thestingingsensationoccursimmediately,asthehairsactassyringesthatinjectseveralchemi-calsintotheskin.Ifpossible,trytoremovethehairswiththeuseoftapeortweezers.Coolingcreams,lotions,andanti-itchcreamsreducemostofthesymptomssoonafterapplication.
Plants that cause hay feverRagweedpolleniscarriedmanymilesbythewind,soitisdifficulttoavoidallexposure.However,youcansignificantlylimityourexposuretopollenbyavoidingragweedplantswhentheyproducepolleninAugustandSeptember.
Stinging nettle
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Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)
Commonragweedisamemberofthecompositefamily,anditspollenisamajorcauseofhayfever.Itisalsocalledbitterweed,blackweed,hay-feverweed,hogweed,mayweed,andwildtansy.Itgrowsinpasturesandgrainfields,andalongroads.
Commonragweedisanannualplantthatrangesinheightfrom1to3feet.Itgrowsuprightandhasmanybranches.Thestemsareroughandcoveredwithhairs,andtheleavesaredeeplycut,orlobed.Theplanthasseparatemaleandfemaleflowers,alllackingpetals.Theseedisenclosedinacrown-shapedwoodyhull.
Thisplantproducesabundantpollen,whichisshedfromearlyAugustuntilthefirstkillingfrost—aboutthesametimethatgoldenrodbeginstoflower.
Giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida)
Giantragweed,alsoamemberofthecompositefamily,isanannualplantthatreproducesonlybyseed.Itisalsocalledgreatragweed,bitter-weed,crownweed,horseweed,king-head,andtallambrosia.Thisplantisaweedoffloodplainsandfertilefarmland,anditfrequentlygrowsalongtheedgesofcornfields.
Giantragweedrangesinheightfrom3to16feet.Theleaveshavethreetofivelobesandtendtobelargeandslightlyhairy,andtheflowershavenopetals.
GiantragweedproducespollenfromAugustuntilfrostkillstheplants.Likecommonragweedpollen,giantragweedpollenisamajorcauseofsummerhayfever.
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Thorny, barbed plantsPlantswiththornybarbsareoftenmoreofanuisancethanadanger—theysticktohair,clothing,andfurandcanbedifficulttoremovecom-pletely.However,seedlingsofsomeoftheseplantscanbepoisonoustolivestock,andburscaninjureanimals’mouths.
Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare)
Bullthistle,alsocalledspearthistle,isabiennialplantthatreproducesfromseed.Bullthistlesgrowinundis-turbedsoilsuchaspastures,road-sides,andrailroadembankments,andarecommoninlawns.TheyarefoundthroughoutWisconsin.
UnlikeCanadathistle,whichformsdensepatchesofplants,bullthistlesgrowassolitaryplants.Inthefirstyearifits2-yearlifecycle,bullthistleseedgerminatesandproducesarosetteofspinyleavesandafleshytaproot.Inthesecondyear,theplantsproutsa2-to4-footbranchedstem,flowers,producesseed,anddies.
Bullthistlesproducereddish-purple-torose-coloredflowersingumdrop-shapedheadsatthetipsofthebranches.Spinybractssurroundtheflowers.Bullthistleseedsareattachedtoapappus,orparachute,whichallowsthewindtodispersetheseeds.
Bull thistle
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Beggarticks (Bidens frondosa)
Amemberofthecompositefamily,beggarticksisalsocalledburmari-gold,devil’sbootjack,pitchforkweed,andsticktights.Theplantgrowsinmoistsoilsuchaswetmeadowsandalongstreams.ItgrowsthroughoutWisconsin,especiallyinmucksoils.
Beggarticksisanannualplantthatreproducesbyseedandgrowstoaheightof2to5feet.Branchingoccursonlynearthetopoftheplant.Leavesofbeggarticksgrowoppositeeachotherandaredeeplydividedinafeatherlikeformation.Flowerheadsareabout1inchindiameter.Theoutsideflowers,orrayflowers,arebrightyellow,whiletheinsideflowers,ordiskflowers,arebrownishyellow.Theseedsareflatandbrownandareequippedwithtwobarbedfishhook-typespinesthatattachthemselvestoclothing,hair,andfur.
Theseplantsareaparticularnuisancetohuntersandhuntingdogs.
Burdock (Arctium minus)
Burdockisabiennialplantthatreproducesbyseedinwasteareas,aroundbuildings,andatotherundisturbedsites.Amemberofthecompositefamily,burdockisalsocalledclotbur,cocklebutton,andcuckoobutton.
Inthefirstyearofitslifecycle,theplantproducesafleshytaprootandarosetteoflargeleavesthatlooksomewhatlikerhubarb.Thenextyear,theplantgrowsa3-to6-foothairy,groovedstem,producesflowersandseed,anddies.Thelargeleavesareheartshapedandarearrangedalternatelyonthestem.Theflowersaresmall,reddishvioletincolor,andsurroundedbyhookedbractsintheformofabur.
Theburs,whichareabout½inchindiameter,hookintoclothing,hair,andfur.
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Cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium)
Cocklebur,alsoknownasspinyclotbur,clotweed,daggercocklebur,andSpanishthistle,isanannualplantthatreproducesbyseed.Itgrowsinfields,abandonedlands,pastures,androadsides,andcanbefoundthroughoutWisconsin.
Cockleburhasalarge,woodytaprootandastemthatreachesaheightof2to4feet.Stemsarerough,hairy,andcoveredwithreddishspots.Theleaves,whicharearrangedalter-natelyalongthestem,aresimpleandtriangularandhavelongpetioles.Theflowersareenclosedinaspinyburcoveredwithhookedspinesandtwoprominentandcurvedspines,orbeaks.
Thehard,pricklyburattachestoclothing,hair,andfurandispar-ticularlyanuisancetohuntersandhuntingdogs.However,therealdangercockleburposesisthattheseedlingsarepoisonoustocattle.
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Sandbur (Cenchrus longispinus)
Sandburisanannualwarm-seasongrassthatproducesseedsinspinyburs.Othercommonnamesofthesandburincludebeargrass,burgrass,hedgehoggrass,andsandburgrass.Sandbursareassociatedwithsandysoilsanddroughtconditions.Theyarefoundinpastures,fields,orchards,andcropland.
Sandbursgerminateafterthedangerofspringfrostpasses.Theplantsgrowfrom6inchesto2feettall,andtheyflowerinsummer,producingaspinybur.Thespinesontheburshavecurvedbarbsthatworkintothefleshofhumansandanimalsiftheyarenotremoved.Stemsoftenlodge,orgrowparalleltothesoilsurface,bylatesummer,forminglargematsofsandbur.
Thebursofthisplantsticktofurandclothingandinjurethemouthsofanimalsthathavethemisfortunetograzeonthem.
ResourcesCenterforWildlifeInformation
www.BeBearAware.org
Living with Bears in WisconsinWisconsinDepartmentofNaturalResourcesdnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/bear/
Living with Wolves: Tips for Avoiding ConflictsInternationalWolfCenterwww.wolf.org
Photo credits: Frog(p.3),mudpuppy(p.4),pages5,6—WisconsinDepartmentofNaturalResources’BureauofEndangeredResources;pages16,20—PhilPellitteri;pages25,30,31,32,33,34—UW–MadisonWeedIdentification&Managementwebsite(weedid.wisc.edu);allotherphotos—iStockphoto.com.
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Authors:ScottCravenisprofessorofforestandwildlifeecology,PhilPellitteriisdistinguishedoutreachspecialistinentomology,andMarkRenzisassistantprofessorofagronomyandExtensionweedspecialist.AllholdjointappointmentswiththeCollegeofAgriculturalandLifeSciences,UniversityofWisconsin-MadisonandtheUniversityofWisconsin-Extension,CooperativeExtension.
Illustrations: RenéeGraef.
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Outdoor Hazards in Wisconsin: A Guide to Insects, Plants, and Wildlife (G3564) R-09-2010
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