Latest news with #BrandonWilliamson
CBC
2 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Beware of giant hogweed, officials say as battle to kill dangerous weed drags on
One of Ontario's most dangerous invasive weeds is spreading across southwestern Ontario, prompting a warning from a local conservation authority and extending an on-the-ground battle to destroy it. The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) said it's spent more than 120 hours so far this year fighting the spread of giant hogweed — a large invasive plant that has a sap known to cause reactions ranging from mild to severe. "It ranges from a mild rash on your skin to heavy purple blotches and really severe blistering. In the most severe cases we've heard about ... it can cause temporary blindness," said Brandon Williamson, the land management coordinator for the UTRCA. Officials have been patrolling the upper Thames watershed, looking for the telltale signs of the dangerous weed and seeking to destroy it. The plant has been in the area for roughly 15 years, but its coverage is expanding. What to watch out for (and avoid) According to Williamson, giant hogweed is hard to miss. In its first phase of growth, it has a large, thick stalk with coarse hairs and purple blotching, "like somebody dipped a paintbrush in a can of purple paint and splattered it on the stem," Williamson said. The plant grows large sugar maple-like leaves. In its second growth phase, a flower blooms that appear similar to a Queen Anne's lace, Williamson said. A mature plant can grow more than five metres tall. "That massive plant puts out [as many as] 50,000 seeds annually, depending on the size." Anyone who touches the plant is advised to immediately wash their hands and monitor the body part that touched the plant. Williamson said since the poisonous sap reacts to sunlight, it's best to stay out of the sun. "Wear long pants and long sleeves if you're going to be going to areas where the plant appears, especially if you're going to be wading through long vegetation and grasses." Williamson said the weed is most commonly found along waterways, making anglers, kayakers and canoeists especially prone to running into it, and that hikers also need to watch out for the plant. That's something the Thames Valley Trail Association (TVTA) knows all too well. Volunteers with the association that maintains over 100 kilometres of trail in the London area have been having their own battle with giant hogweed for years. "It's been progressing, I would say, in the last five years for sure," said Tilman Joosten, a TVTA board member. "It was in the watershed, north of our trail, and it's slowly working its way down." Joosten said the trails that run near Highway 7 in St. Mary's are a particular problem spot. For their part, Joosten said the TVTA has been in close contact with conservation officials and has spent hours spraying herbicide on giant hogweed plants along the sides of their trails to keep the weed at bay. The TVTA also works to educate members and new hikers about the dangers of the plant and is planning to post signs at trailheads of known problem spots. Property owners responsible, too It's also possible for giant hogweed to appear on private property in the City of London, and property owners are required to dispose of it. "Whenever we hear about a giant hogweed, we do take that as a priority concern," said Orest Katolyk, London's top bylaw official. If a property owner fails to remove the plant, city officials will do it themselves and charge the property owner for the service. To remove any prohibited plant from your property, Emily Williamson, London's environmental planning manager, suggests knowing what plant you're dealing with. "In terms of giant hogweed, ensure that you're wearing gloves and a long sleeve shirt," she said. "It's important that all of the plant material is bagged and that, ideally, any of this removal is done before the plant goes into flower to ensure no seeds are spread into the surrounding area."
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
London-area conservation officials warn: Don't get burned by giant hogweed
With summer around the corner and more people heading outdoors, London-area conservation officials are warning the public to be wary of an invasive plant that poses serious health risks. The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority is urging residents to stay vigilant as it ramps up efforts to manage giant hogweed, a toxic plant commonly found along waterways, roadsides and ditches. In a public notice, the agency called it 'one of Ontario's most dangerous invasive species.' Native to southwest Asia and introduced as a garden ornamental, giant hogweed can grow up to five metres tall and is becoming more common across southern and central Ontario. Its caustic sap can cause severe, long-lasting, and sometimes irreversible harm. 'All parts of the plant – stem, roots, leaves, even flowers – hold phototoxic sap,' said Brandon Williamson, the conservation authority's land management coordinator. Severe burns can occur when sap on the skin is exposed to sunlight as UV rays activate harmful compounds. 'If you're one of the unlucky ones who has a severe reaction to hogweed sap . . . you can get extremely severe burns (and) blistering. You can get heavy purple blotching on your skin that can last for years,' Williamson added. Symptoms typically appear within 48 hours and may result in long-term sensitivity to sunlight. Williamson said giant hogweed's clear, watery sap can even cause 'temporary and even permanent blindness' if it comes into contact with the eyes. As of May 20, conservation staff had already logged more than 120 hours treating about 47 hectares of conservation authority-owned property along the Thames River, according to the public notice. The work also helps protect native species, which giant hogweed can easily outcompete. Although the plant is more prevalent in some places – such as in the northern part of the watershed – Williamson said it's hard to say whether the problem is growing. In the Killaly area of northeast London, for example, the presence of hogweed has remained steady over the past 15 years. However, Williamson noted giant hogweed's ability to spread and 'move around' if it isn't managed. 'Because of how giant hogweed distributes its seeds and pops up across the watershed, if one landowner does a lot of work on their property and gets ahead of it, but the adjacent landowners upstream do not, then those seeds will go downstream and start to germinate and populate that area,' he said. The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority stated that appropriate personal protective equipment must be worn while managing giant hogweed. bwilliams@ Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
