A warning from a local naturalist about an aggressive invasive plant that is making its presence known in several parts of Simcoe County.
It is called giant hogweed and according to Bob Bowles it is starting to spread at alarming speed in the Severn Township, Barrie and Collingwood areas.
Bowles also says the plant is spreading in increasing numbers along the Uhthoff Trail system.
He says besides being a non native species it can cause some serious health problems to people as well.
The plant’s watery clear sap contains a substance which when in contact with human skin and exposed to ultra violet (UV) radiation can turn into poison.
Once the plant’s liquid come into contact with the skin and is exposed to sunlight, the poison can cause burns and severe blistering.
Bowles says he has been tracking the potentially poisonous plant for a decade and has seen a dramatic increase in this year’s population of hogweed north of Orillia.
In 2001, he observed three individual plants in the area, a number that grew to 24 by 2010.
This year, he noted more than 640 of the towering plants.
Bowles says unlike other invasive plant species in Simcoe county, Hogweed is not yet well established and quick action is needed to eliminate this plant before it spreads even further.
He says if you spot the invasive plant report it to the Ontario Invasive Species Council at 1-800-563-7711.
