O U T D O O R H A Z A R D SI N W I S C O N S I N :

A Guide to Nox i o u sI n s e c t s, Plants and Wildlife

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B Y S C OT T R . C RA VE N, R O B ER T C . NE W MA N A N D P H I L L IP J . PE L L I T T E R I

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W I L D L I F EAmphibians . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Reptiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Turtles . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Snakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Birds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Mammals . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

I N S E C T S / I N V E RT E B R AT E SStinging insects . . . . . . . . . . 5Blood-feeding insects . . . . . . 6Biting flies . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Blackflies . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Ticks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Chiggers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

P L A N T SPoisonous on contact . . . . . . 10Poisonous when ingested . . . . 11Plants that cause hay fever. . . . 13Thorny, barbed plants . . . . . . 13

C O N T E N T S

Wisconsin’s bountiful naturalresources—clear lakes and rivers, forests,rolling hills and interesting land forms—makethe state an ideal place for outdoor recreation.

When you hike, camp, hunt, fish orspend time outdoors, it is possible toencounter plants or animals that might causeproblems. While poisonous plants, wildanimals, and swarms of biting insects do existin Wisconsin, the risk of meeting them isactually quite low. In most cases, you canavoid these natural hazards all together, orhandle them with little difficulty.

This publication was written to help yourecognize, avoid and cope with potentialproblems caused by wildlife, plants or insects.

WILDLIFEWisconsin’s wildlife includes more than

450 species of birds, mammals, reptiles andamphibians. Millions of dollars and hours arespent hunting, observing, studying or pho-tographing these animals. The vast majorityof the species are absolutely harmless. Some,however, can inflict physical damage or, atthe very least, cause a bit of a fright!

A M P H I B I A N SAll amphibians found in Wisconsin—

frogs, salamanders and toads—are non-poi-sonous and harmless. In fact, frogs andsalamanders make excellent subjects for chil-

dren to observe and study. These crea-tures have no claws and do notbite. If you collect them forstudy, please return them to the

site from which they came. Donot collect endangered or threatened

species for any reason!Most of Wisconsin’s

salamanders aresmall, though some, such as the tiger orspotted

(Ambystoma sp.) varieties may grow to10 or 12 inches in length. You won’t oftensee a solitary salamander, since these reclusivecreatures seldom come into the open. Butwhen environmental conditions are right,

you may encounter large numbers of them.For example, a warm spring rain may triggera mass movement of tiger or spotted salaman-ders from their woodland home to pondsused as breeding sites. (Water is an essentialpart of the amphibian life cycle.) When thesemigrations occur, salamanders may literallyfill window wells, cover roadways, or createthe general impression of an “invasion.”These animals are harmless and should beremoved from natural traps and sent on theirway. There is no harm in handling themexcept for the possibility of transferring theirslimy skin secretions into your eyes whichwill cause annoying, but not dangerous, eyeirritation.

The mudpuppy (Necturus) is a large (upto 16 inches) aquatic salamander found inrivers and lakes throughout Wisconsin.Though not dangerous, mudpuppies canbite, and their size, bizarre external gills, andextremely slimy skinmay startle an angler who inadvertently hooks one.Mudpuppies should be unhooked andreleased. They are rarely seen in the wild.

The amphibian that concernspeople most often is the toad(Bufo americanus). This is mainly due to themyth that handling toads will cause warts.There is no need for concern—the toad’sbumpy, warty skin is not “contagious” topeople or other animals.

The largest bumps on the toad’s upperback are actually glands which secrete a foul-smelling, milky fluid that protects the toadfrom being eaten. It can irritate eye and nosemembranes. The only real risk in holding atoad is having it urinate on your hands,which usually causes you to drop the toad—exactly why it is done.

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R E P T I L E S

Wisconsin’s reptiles—snakes, turtles, andlizards—are much better equipped toprotect themselves than amphibians.

Most species have sharp claws and powerfuljaws, and two snake species are venomous.Wisconsin’s lizards, which include racerunners,skinks, and slender glass lizards, are quite rareand prefer to dwell in secluded spots. You aremuch more likely to encounter a turtle orsnake than a lizard.

Children are attracted to both amphib-ians and reptiles. These creatures can beexamined or photographed, but should bereturned to the point of capture. Endangeredspecies, such as the ornate box turtle, shouldbe left alone!

Turtles

All of Wisconsin’s turtles have claws andstrong jaws. You can protect yourself froma turtle’s claws if you hold the animal

securely by the shell. But keep away from theturtle’s head. Its jaws deserve respect.

A turtle may walk slowly on land, but itssurprisingly long neck and head can moverapidly. Any turtle of more than baseball-sizediameter can deliver a painful bite, particular-

ly to a child’s fingers. Snapping turtles(Chelydra serpentina) reach impres-sive size in Wisconsin and are fre-quently seen in spring whenfemales search for nesting sites on

land. They are very aggressiveout of the water! Stay away

from the “head end.” If you mustcarry a snapping turtle by the tail,hold it well away from your legs.

According to Richard Vogt inNatural History of Reptiles and Amphibians ofWisconsin, stories of people losing fingers ortoes to snapping turtles are “questionable.” Infact, snapping turtles rarely bite when theyare in the water. The fear of losing a finger ortoe left dangling in the water is usuallyunwarranted.

Snakes

Only two of Wisconsin’s 23 snake speciesare poisonous: The massasauga or swamprattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) and the

timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus). Thelarger and more dangerous isthe timber rattlesnake. Itis large, sometimesreaching 41⁄2 feet orlonger. The timberrattler is yellowishwith narrow, bolddark bands, blacktail, unmarked yellow toyellowish-tan head, and tanrattles. It lives mainly nearcliffs, rock outcroppings, andsteep rocky hillsides along theWisconsin and Mississippi Riversand their tributaries in southwesternWisconsin, although it may occasionally turnup outside this primary range (see map).

Timber rattlers are aggressive when cor-nered and are very poisonous. If you arehiking or hunting in the timber rattler’s rangeand habitat, be extremely cautious aboutwhere you place your hands and feet whenyou climb around rocks or walk near thickbrush piles, fallen trees, and wood piles. Youshould also know, from consulting a first-aidguide, what to do in case you are bitten by apoisonous snake.

The massasauga is a small to medium-sized, heavy-bodied snake that lives in lowmarshy or swampy areas in west centralWisconsin. It is an endangered species andrarely seen. It has disappeared from 52 of the62 townships in which it was found before1980, and now only a few isolated popula-tions are known to exist. These are found atthe mouth of the Chippewa River, nearPortage and in the Turtle Creek area inWalworth County. The massasauga has lethalvenom, and humans have died from its bite,though no record of such deaths exists in

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Wisconsin. Because the snake is so small, itsbite is seldom fatal, although it can be seriousif left untreated.

There are several ways to distinguishpoisonous from non-poisonous snakes. In

the field, the two rattlesnakescan be identified bytheir obvious rattlesand color patterns.In Wisconsin, any

solid-colored or hor-izontally striped snake is non-poisonous. Youcan examine the characteristics of a deadsnake in more detail (but don’t kill a snakefor this purpose). Be careful when approach-ing and examining an apparently dead snake.It may only appear dead. A freshly “killed”snake can turn its head and bite by reflexaction.

Both of Wisconsin’s rattlesnakes belongto the pit viper family, so named because of apit or depression in front of each eye (seediagram). The pits are heat-sensing organsthat aid in locating and seeking warm-blooded prey. Non-poisonous snakes have no pits.

Poisonous snakes have elliptical, verticaleye pupils, while non-poisonous varieties

have round pupils. Also, the scales onthe underside of the tails ofpoisonous and non-poisonoussnakes differ.

Throughout most ofWisconsin, the likelihood

of encountering a poisonous snake is slim.Several non-poisonous Wisconsin

snakes, including the bullsnake, blue racer,black (rat) snake, and fox snake, can reachlengths of up to four or more feet. All havenumerous sharp teeth and can deliver apainful bite. Black snakes (Elaphe obsoleta) andNorthern water snakes (Nerodia sepedon) havenasty dispositions and will strike with littleprovocation. Hognose snakes (Heterodon platyrhinos) will rarely bite even if violently pro-

voked. Several of the smaller species, such asgarter snakes, can be handled safely with onlythe risk of provoking a foul-smelling excretion.University of Wisconsin-Extension publica-tion Snakes of Wisconsin (G3139), the previ-ously-mentioned book by Vogt, and goodfield guides can help with snake identification.

B I R D S

Birds should be a source of interest andwonder for the outdoors enthusiast—not asafety concern. Although some larger

species have sharp talons or impressive bills,they use them only to obtain food or defendthemselves. Birds can be dangerous in twosituations: When they are defending theirnests or territories; and when they have beeninjured or incapacitated.

Defending territoryMany birds, from swallows and black-

birds to hawks, owls, and swans, becomevery aggressive and defensive during thenesting season. Swallows frequently dive atpeople who approach their nests, and somemay even strike an intruder’s head. Suchbehavior is annoying but hardly a safetyproblem. Larger birds can inflict somedamage. Large waterfowl (geese andswans) and most raptors (hawks,owls and eagles) have powerfulwings, strong (and often sharp)bills, and dangerous talons. Neverapproach the nests of these species. It isillegal, potentially destructive tothe eggs or young, and danger-ous for you. Many experi-enced researchers have beeninjured by the blows or talonsof such birds while working atnest sites.

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Handling birds People frequently attempt to aid injured

birds. While their concern is admirable, birdsmust be handled properly to avoid furtherinjury to the bird and to the person helping.Calm a large bird by covering it with a boxor blanket. Restrain its wings and feet if youplan to move the bird by hand. The bill of ahawk or owl may look threatening, but it isthe needle-sharp talons that must be con-trolled. If the bird is in no immediate dangeror can be coaxed or put into a large box,leave the handling to an experienced rehabili-tator or biologist.

M A M M A L S

Fears of “wild animals” are usually directedat mammals. Most mammals have the teeth,claws, or size to injure or even kill people,

but they rarely do. By nature, wild mammalsavoid human contact and outright attacks arealmost unknown. When attacks do occur,they almost always involve cornered, sick orinjured animals, or mothers defending theiryoung.

Only one Wisconsin mammal ispoisonous. The short-tailed

shrew (Blarina brevicanda)found throughoutWisconsin, is a small,dark gray animalabout 4 to 6 incheslong with a very short

tail. Its fur is very short andsleek, and it has small eyes and a pointedsnout. Short-tailed shrews are often confusedwith meadow mice (Microtus sp). All shrewsare carnivorous, and the short-tailed shrewuses its poisonous saliva to help subdue preysuch as mice which may be as large as itself.The bite of a short-tailed shrew may causepainful swelling, but is not life threatening.

A few facts and common-sense rulesshould guide your actions when dealing withwild mammals:

❚ Unusual behavior—tameness, erraticmovement, activity during unusualhours of the day, etc.—indicates a sickor injured mammal that should beavoided. Several diseases common inwild mammals are transmissible tohumans and potentially dangerous.Contact a licensed rehabilitator, biolo-gist or humane agency if you believean animal needs help.

❚ Do not encourage or allow children tocollect, pet, or make pets of young ormature wild animals.

❚ Do not corner, grab, or threaten anywild animal—even one as small as amouse. Most will fight tenaciously todefend themselves. Injured or sickanimals are especially unpredictable.

❚ Most common fears of bats are notbased on facts. All bats are not rabid;bats do not bite to consume blood(vampire bats do not dwell anywherenear Wisconsin); bats will not inten-tionally entangle themselves in longhair. Bats are interesting, beneficialcreatures. If you have problems withunwanted bat colonies, consult theExtension publication Bats: Informationfor Wisconsin Homeowners (G3096).

❚ Timber wolves are a very rare, endan-gered species in Wisconsin. Their ulti-mate survival depends on humanunderstanding and tolerance. They donot threaten human safety.

❚ Black bears are common in many partsof the northern half of Wisconsin.They are capable of killing or injuringpeople, but they rarely do. The blackbear is an important part of a north-woods “experience,” whether youactually see one or simply because youknow one may be nearby. Problemscan occur when bears scavenge for foodaround dumps, campgrounds, or farms.If you are interested in bears, requestan excellent booklet entitled How toLive with Black Bears from the USDA-North Central Forest ExperimentStation, 1992 Folwell Avenue, St. PaulMN 55108. If you respect a bear’sstrength and behavior and act accord-ingly, the result will be a peacefulcoexistence.

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❚ Deer are very abundant throughoutWisconsin. Deer-vehicle collisionsresult in human death and injury, mil-lions of dollars in property loss, deathand injury to the deer (35,000 or moreannually in Wisconsin), and mentalanguish for the driver. There is no fool-proof way to eliminate deer-vehicle collisions. Fencing,reducing the deerpopulation, inter-cept feeding,and mechanicalgadgets all haveserious limitations. Thebest advice is to recognizethe risk and drive defen-sively. Know the seasonsof the year(fall andspring)when therisk ofencounteringdeer is highest, thetimes of greatest deer activity (earlymorning and late evening), and areas ofgreatest risk (often marked by deer-crossing signs). Slowing down andbeing alert for deer will do more toreduce collisions than anything else.

INSECTS AND OTHERINVERTEBRATES

There are more than 10,000 differentinsects, spiders, and related creatures that youcould meet during a summer walk inWisconsin. Over 95 percent of these arecompletely harmless; less than 1 percent ofthe rest go out of their way to tormentpeople. Insects and other invertebrates attackpeople for two reasons: to obtain food or todefend themselves. Blackflies, ticks,mosquitoes, chiggers, deer flies and horse fliesrequire animal or human blood as food.Females use the protein from blood to makeeggs. Any other bite or sting is a defensive orprotective reaction by the insect.

S T I N G I N G I N S E C T SMany insects feed on each other or

similar small creatures. Such predators havepowerful enzymes and proteins in their salivathat paralyze, kill, or digest their prey. If oneof these predacious creatures is mishandled, itcan inflict a painful bite that may take time toheal. Although the bite may be mistaken for asting, there is no stinger left behind. The onlytreatment required is to put ice on the site ifswelling develops.

Some types of hairy or spiny caterpillarsare covered with “urticating,” or stinginghairs. These hairs contain a poison cell gland,and if rubbed, the hair will break, releasingenzymes that cause blisters, burns, or rashes.The sensations feel similar tothose caused by a stingingnettle plant. If you areunfamiliar with an insect,it is best to observe, ratherthan pick it up. Most otherinsects, such as adult butterflies, moths, anddragonflies, are not capable of biting people.

Bees, hornets, wasps, and some ants havea special defensive weapon—the stinger. Bynature, these insects are not aggressive, butcan become so if their nests are disturbed orif they are trapped or confined.

The honeybee stinger is barbed muchlike a fish hook. The honeybee flies awayafter stinging, but leaves its stinger andpoison sac behind, killing the bee.The muscular poison sac willcontinue to pump venom, soremove the stinger promptly byscraping with your fingernail or knife. Donot try to pick the stinger off with yourfingers because this squeezes the poison sac,injecting more enzymes and poisons intoyour skin.

All other stinging bees and wasps haveunbarbed stingers, and can sting repeatedly ifgiven the opportunity. The amount ofvenom injected will affect the severity of the

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reaction. Most species of bees, wasps, andhornets will sting if they feel threatened, butwill allow you to calmly brush them away ifyou move slowly.

A recent import, the German yellow-jacket, is responsible for a marked increase instings and related problems from early Augustthrough September. This black and yellowinsect, slightly smaller than the honeybee,

made its debut in Wisconsin inthe late 1970s. German yellow-

jackets build nests of paper inrodent burrows or other cavities.

In spring and early summer,when colonies are small, yel-lowjackets survive by feedingon other insects. In late

summer, when the colonies have increased insize, yellowjackets are forced to seek extranourishment in the form of sugar or protein.Thus, they compete with anyone trying toeat a sandwich, pick a ripe raspberry, or drinka can of soda outdoors.

Take care when eating or drinking out-doors during the late summer. Keep foodcovered as much as possible, and dispose offood scraps after meals. Trash should be dis-posed of in garbage bins with tight fittinglids, or sealed in airtight bags to prevent yel-lowjackets from foraging in the area.

Some simple measures can help youavoid stings from bees and wasps:

❚ Don’t wear perfumes, hair sprays,suntan lotions, or cosmetics that mayattract unwanted attention.

❚ Don’t walk barefoot outside.❚ Avoid outdoor cooking and eating

during the yellowjacket season.❚ If a bee or wasp lands on you, stay

calm and gently brush it away. Suddenmovements increase your chances ofgetting stung.

If you are stung, you will first feelintense burning at the site of the sting, fol-lowed after several minutes by swelling andsevere itching. Swelling may be localized or

involve an entire limb. Ice or cold compress-es applied to the site will decrease swellingand slow the movement of toxins. Othertreatments, such as household meat tenderizeror commercial preparations, will help reducepain and neutralize the proteins and aminoacids in the venom.

Far more serious are the allergic or sys-temic reactions experienced by about onepercent of the population. Symptoms such asthroat or chest constriction, dizziness, laboredbreathing, fever, confusion, wheezing, orunconsciousness indicate serious reactionsthat require medical intervention.

Anaphylactic, or hypersensitive, reactionscan be fatal. Such reactions often appearwithin the first hour after the sting or theymay be delayed for several hours.

People who are sensitive to stings shouldcarry emergency medical kits at all timesduring the spring and summer. A person whois sensitive to one type of bee sting may notnecessarily be sensitive to the stings of allwasps or bees. There are methods of desensi-tizing people to various stings. Consult aphysician for more information.

B L O O D - F E E D I N G I N S E C T S

More than 50 mosquito species live inWisconsin. All females of the speciesrequire a blood meal to breed. The most

notorious mosquitoes come from the genusAedes—the floodwater mosquitoes. If a pondor riverbank dries up, their eggs can remaindormant for months or years until they againcome into contact with water. It takes abouttwo weeks after water is available for theadults to appear, and up to 100 mosquitoescan emerge per square foot of water surfaceper day in good breeding habitat. More than60 percent of these adults will migrateapproximately 10 to 20 miles from theirbreeding site in search of a blood meal.Female mosquitoes will live for three to sixweeks and can take multiple blood mealsduring this time.

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Mosquitoes are most active under lowlight conditions, yet some are “day biters.”Winds above 10 miles per hour forcemosquitoes to land and rest; when the windsdie down, mosquitoes again become active.Avoid brushy, shaded sites, which have thelow light and poor air movement that attractsmosquitoes. Temperatures below 50

o

Fprevent mosquitoes from flying, but it usuallytakes three or four killing frosts to end themosquito season.

Mosquitoes use carbon dioxide, lacticacid, and heat to find their hosts.

The more active you are, themore of these attractants you

give off. Individuals differ inboth their attractiveness to

mosquitoes and the waythey react to a bite. Dark

colors and some fra-grances also attract certainmosquitoes.

Even if you sit on a sunny, windyhillside and wear light-colored clothing, youcan still be bitten by a mosquito. Other thancovering up, the only practical way to dealwith mosquitoes is to use a repellent spray,cream, or lotion. The active ingredient insuch repellents is usually DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta toluamide), which does not killmosquitoes, but prevents them from findingyou. Read the label. Not all repellents are tobe used on skin, and concentrated repellentsshould not be used on small children. Somerepellents will dissolve or stain watch crystals,glasses and painted or varnished surfaces onfishing rods, cars, etc. Most repellents last oneto five hours, depending on the amount ofsweating or rubbing that occurs. Even cover-age is important. Mosquito netting (23-26meshes per inch) may come in handy forovernight trips.

The wound of a mosquito bite is minor.The intense itching and swelling is an allergicresponse to the mosquito’s salivary secretions.

Various treatments such as rubbing alcohol ormild ammonia will help relieve itching.Although mosquitoes transmit many seriousdiseases throughout the world, the onlymosquito-borne disease seen regularly inWisconsin is LaCrosse encephalitis, whichcan cause complications in children under12 years old.

B I T I N G F L I E S

Deer and horse flies are large, robust, some-what hairy biting flies up to 11⁄2 incheslong. Many species have bright green or

purple eyes; deer flies have dark bands ontheir wings. They feed during the day and aremost abundant in low, moist, wooded areasfrom late May until September. They breedin the mud of ponds, swamps, and ditches.Adult female flies are very strong fliers andtheir bite is painful because they make adeep wound as they continually stab the skinwith knife-like mouth parts. Coverup with a light, long-sleeved shirt andwear a hat or cap to reduce exposedskin. Applying tick or mosquitorepellents to exposed skin willprovide added protection. Bitingflies are most active on warm, sunny days.

B L A C K F L I E S

Blackflies are small, weak flying, gray orblack humpbacked gnats, about the size offruit flies. These day-biting flies breed in

moving water in rivers, streams and creeks.“Buffalo gnats” bite painlessly on anyexposed part of the body, but often prefer theforehead, hairline, or wherever clothing fitssnugly, such as at collars, cuffs, and the top ofsocks. They are persistent and may crawl intoyour ears, nostrils or hair. The bite appears asa small, red, central spot surrounded by a red-dened, swollen area. Because blackflies useenzymes that prevent blood from clotting, asmall trickle of dried blood may remain at thewound. The bite site often remains irritatedfor several days, and some people developswollen glands around the ears and neck.

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Wearing a hat will put a stop to scalpbites. Repellents prevent biting, but will notstop blackflies from flying around your head.Canoeists and people fishing in prime black-fly habitat may have to tape their cuffs shutand use head nets to remain comfortable.

The numbers of most blackfly speciespeak over a two to three week season eachyear. Staying in areas where air movement isgood and away from streambanks will reduceattacks.

There is a group of tiny biting midgesknown locally as punkies, sandflies, and “no-see-ums.” The burning and irritation theycause is far greater than their size wouldsuggest. Their weak flying ability usuallylimits and localizes problem areas. Repellentswill help protect you from their bites, as willmosquito netting for tents and sleeping bags.

T I C K S

What is a May walk in the woods withoutticks? Ticks are eight-legged, blood-feeding relatives of mites. Their thick,

leathery skin and slow movements allowthem to “lie in wait” for months on theunderside of leaves or on twigs. Tick habitatincludes long grass or brushy areas near gametrails, hiking paths, and sites with high smallrodent populations. Feeding is much morecomplicated than a quick bite.

Ticks attach painlessly by means of abarbed hypostome (see figure) and willremain attached for days if left undis-turbed.

Only 2 of the 15 or so tickspecies in Wisconsin normallybite humans. Whatmost people callthe “wood tick” isthe American dogtick, Dermacentorvariabilis. Tickactivity starts inearly May andslows down in

early July. Immature ticks feed primarily onrodents, and a normal life cycle takes twoyears.

Both male and female ticks grab on topants or socks and start searching for a placeto feed. Often the first skin they encounter isin the neck area, giving people the impres-sion that they have dropped from above.American dog ticks are reddish brown andrange up to one-quarter inch in length.American dog ticks transmit RockyMountain Spotted Fever in other parts of thecountry, but this disease rarely appears inWisconsin.

The deer tick, Ixodes dammini, is smallerthan the American dog tick and lacks gray orwhite markings on its back. Adults andimmature ticks feed on humans and pets. Thetick season extends from early April throughNovember with this species. Deer ticks arethe only known carrier of Lyme disease inWisconsin.

It is important to remember that it takesthe tick a number of hours of feeding (18 ormore) to transmit the disease. This meansprompt removal will prevent you from con-tracting Lyme disease. If flu-like symptoms ora spreading rash appear around a tick bite sitewithin two weeks, contact your family physi-cian. Prompt treatment with antibiotics hasbeen very successful in treating Lyme disease.

Deer ticks seem to be most common inwooded areas with a lush understory ofbrambles and other shrubby material.

To remove an attached tick, graspit with tweezers as close to the headas possible and pull gently and

steadily. Care should betaken not to break the

mouth parts. If leftbehind, they cancause infection. Theuse of home remediessuch as petroleum

jelly, lighter fluid, hot

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matches, and nail polish remover do not helpremoval and could cause other complications.

Preventing tick problems starts withwearing long-sleeved shirts and pants. Tuckpant legs inside socks or boots to cut downon exposed skin. Repellents containingDEET or insecticide/repellent sprays con-taining permethrin can be sprayed on socks,pants, and shoes. Routine total-body tickchecks should become a daily ritual. Promptremoval of deer ticks goes a long way towardpreventing Lyme disease.

C H I G G E R SChiggers are tiny, red, parasitic mites

that are scarcely visible. They existon deer, mice and birds. In humans,

“chigger bites” cause intense itchingand small, reddish welts on the skin.

They most often appear where clothingfits tightly against the body, such as the

ankle, waist, behind the knee, orupper arm. Welts last for three to tendays, and often become infected afterbeing scratched. Humans are not a

suitable host, and the mite has often left ordied before a skin reaction is evident.

Chiggers are most numerous in brushysites or long grass that has high rodent popu-lations. If you have been exposed to chiggers,take a hot soapy bath or shower as soon aspossible. A vigorous rubdown with a towelwill remove and kill unattached larvae. Washall clothing before wearing it again. Variousantiseptics or local anesthetic products can befound at drug stores for temporary relief ofthe itching. To prevent chigger bites, usemosquito repellents, especially along cuffs,waistbands, collars, and ankles. Avoid sittingor reclining on the ground in infested sites.

PLANTSMost weeds are simply unwanted plants.

The majority of them compete with crop andlandscape plants, or are visually unattractivein places where aesthetics are important.However, some Wisconsin weeds go beyondsimply being bothersome. Some are poi-sonous when eaten; others cause skin irrita-tions or blisters. Several weeds causeproblems because they are thorny or becausetheir fruit sticks to clothing or hair. A fewweeds produce pollen which causes hayfever.

Weeds spread as seeds, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes (rootlike, underground stems), andstolons (stems which take root at plant nodesto form new plants). These are moved aboutmostly in organic mulches, manure, and soil.Many weed pests have very effective meansof dispersing their seeds over extensive areas.Most thistle seeds have a pappus, orparachute, that the wind can carry for longdistances. Bull thistles grow in lawns fromseed produced miles away. Burdocks, sand-burs and stick tights have hooks on their fruitand are moved about as they cling to fur, hairand clothing. Water also transports seed.

But once seed or other vegetative plantparts take root, they are non-mobile. Poisonivy does not come to you; you invade itsdomain.

Almost all weed pest problems can beavoided simply by staying away from pestplants, except in the case of pollen. Ragweedpollen is carried many miles by the wind. Onthe other hand, you will be exposed to lesspollen if you stay out of ragweed patcheswhen the weed is flowering in August andSeptember.

To avoid contact with poisonous plants,you must first be able to recognize them.Many excellent publications are available tohelp you identify and control plants. Theyare usually found in bookstores or libraries inthe gardening or nature sections.

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P L A N T S T H AT P O I S O N O N C O N TA C TPoison ivy (Rhus radicans)

Poison ivy, a member of the cashewfamily, grows as either a low woody shrub orclimbing vine. It is also called poison creeperor three-leafed ivy. All plant parts, roots,stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits are poi-sonous to about half the population. Poisonivy causes dermatitis in the form of skin irri-tation and blisters, followed by scabs orcrusts. Symptoms usually occur within 24hours of exposure.

The plant is toxic all year, whichmeans that its dry, fallen leaves are just aspoisonous as the green, growing plant.

Be especially careful when burning poison ivy.Inhaling the smoke can cause a serious reaction.

Poison ivy is often found in dampforests, especially along rivers. The vinesclimb trees and fences. The shrub varietygrows out in the open. Poison ivy is found inwoods, pastures, roadbanks, fence rows,parks, beaches and campgrounds.

The leaves of poison ivy are divided intothree leaflets. The lateral two leaflets are fas-tened directly to the leaf stem, or petiole.The terminal leaflet is borne on a short leafstalk. Heed the old adage, “Leaflets three, letit be.” The three leaves may vary in size andshape. The edges might have a smoothmargin, be toothed or lobed. Leaves may besmooth or slightly hairy, glossy or dull inappearance. Leaves turn yellow, orange orred before they drop off in the fall.

The flowers are greenish-yellow andoccur in clusters along the stem, frequentlyhidden by leaves. The fruit is a yellowish-white, round berry about one-quarter inch indiameter. The berry has stripes on it resem-bling a peeled orange. Birds, not sensitive tothe plant, eat the berries and spread the seeds.

For humans, eating a leaf, or any part ofthe plant, does not confer immunity. Don’tforget that all parts of the poison ivy plant aretoxic throughout the year.

Poison sumac (Toxicodendron bernix)Poison sumac is also called poison

dogwood, poison elder, poison ash andswamp sumac.

The plant grows as a shrub or smalltree, but never as a vine. It ranges inheight from 5 to 25 feet. Poison sumacgrows in wet areas, such as flood-plains, swamps and bogs. It differsfrom staghorn sumac, the commonsumac often seen on highway banks.Staghorn sumac has bright redberries while poison sumac produces greenish-white berriessimilar to those of poison ivy. Birdseat and distribute the seeds. Theplant’s leaves turn orange-red in the fall.

Contact with poison sumac causeswater blisters.

Wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)A member of the parsnip family, wild

parsnip is a biennial plant that reproduces byseed. It is also known as birds-nest, Harts-eyeand madnip.

In the first year of its two-year life cycle,the plant produces a rosette of large

leaves that somewhat resemble celeryand a large, fleshy tap root.

In year two, wild parsnip pro-duces a stem 3 to 5 feet tall,

flowers, generates seed and dies.Leaves have saw-toothedmargins and alternate along the

elongated stem. Flowers arearranged in rounded clusters.Individual flowers have fivesmall, yellow petals.

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Wild parsnip is found on rich, fertileland. It is very common in roadside ditchesand waste lands.

The sap of wild parsnip can cause severeskin blisters in certain people. The blistersresemble the irritation caused by poison ivy.Handling or coming in contact with wet wildparsnip leaves produces severe skin irritation.

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)Stinging nettle is also referred to as tall

nettle or slender nettle, and belongs to thenettle family. It is a perennial plant thatreproduces by seed and underground rootstocks.

The plant grows 2 to 7 feet tall, and isslightly branched near the top of the stem. Itsstems are stiff, rigid and covered with stinginghairs that cause welts, inflammation and aburning sensation when they come in contactwith skin.

Leaves alternate on the stem and arevery dark green. They are typi-

cally 3 to 6 inches long withsaw-toothed margins and are

covered with stinging hairs.Flowers lack petals and

grow in clusters in theleaf axils.

Stinging nettle growsin full sun in damp fertile

soil and is frequently foundalong canals in muck soils, around

barnyards and in fence rows throughoutWisconsin.

PLANTS THAT ARE POISONOUSWHEN INGESTEDPoison hemlock (Conium maculatum)

Socrates was put to death by drinkingpoison hemlock —a “cup of death.” All partsof this plant (a member of the parsley family)contain the toxic alkaloid coniine. Socrates’drink was made from unripehemlock seeds.

Poison hemlock has severalcommon names, includingdeadly-hemlock, snake-weed, poison-parsley andpoison stinkweed.

Like other biennial plants, itproduces a rosette of leaves and afleshy, parsnip-like root thefirst year. In its second year,poison hemlock grows 7 to 10feet tall, flowers, produces seedand dies.

There may be 4 to 5 leaves on a stem,with finely divided, toothed margins. Theleaves are arranged in an alternate patternalong the stem.

Poison hemlock stems are covered withpurplish blotches and are hollow betweennodes. Stems produce many branches.

Flowers are white and look similar towild carrot. An individual flower may be nowider than one-tenth of an inch. Seeds arefound in pairs, are pale brown, ribbed andhighly poisonous.

Poison hemlock grows in moist sitessuch as along streams and in wet ditches.

All parts of this plant, which growsthroughout Wisconsin, are poisonous when eaten.

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Spotted water hemlock (Cicuta maculata)

Spotted water hemlock belongs to theparsley family. It is also referred to as spotted-hemlock, musquash root, beaver-poison,spotted cowbane, muskrat weed and childrens-bane.

Spotted water hemlock is a perennialplant that reproduces by seed and by tuberousroots. Stems are 3 to 5 feet tall and arestreaked with purplish spots. Branchingoccurs only toward the top of the plant.Leaflets are linear with saw-toothed margins.Individual flowers are small, white andarranged in clusters.

Spotted water hemlock grows in swampsand lowlands, often very close to or inshallow water.

All parts of the plant are poisonous wheneaten, especially the roots. Both roots andseeds have a distinctive parsnip-like odor.

Bitter nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)

Bitter nightshade is also known asEuropean bittersweet, blue nightshade,woody nightshade, poison berry, climbingnightshade and scarlet berry.

A member of the nightshade family, theleaves and berries of bitter nightshade

contain toxic alkaloids which makethem mildly poisonous if eaten.

Bitter nightshade isa slender woody vine

that climbs trees andfences. The plant has

simple leaves with one ortwo lobes. Flowers are

purple and the fruit is asoft, round berry which is

green when immature andbright red when mature. The

berries contain solanine, a toxicalkaloid, and are toxic when

ingested.

Bitter nightshade grows in moist soilsand on trees in woods and orchards. It alsoclimbs on shrubs, fences and buildings.

Black nightshade (Solanum ptycanthum)

Deadly nightshade, poison berry andgarden nightshade are other common namesfor this member of the nightshade family.

Black nightshade is an annual plant thatgrows in gardens, fields and waste areas. Itcomes up from seed in spring or earlysummer and dies in fall after the killing frosts.Black nightshade has simple alternate leaves.Its flowers are white and its berries are greenwhen immature and black when mature. Thefruits contain a toxic alkaloid, solanine, whichmakes them mildly toxic when ingested.

Jimson weed (Datura stramonium)Another member of the nightshade

family, Jimson weed is an annual plant thatreproduces by seed. Other names for itinclude Jamestown-weed, thorn-apple, mad-apple, and stinkwort. The plant grows to aheight of 2 to 4 feet. The stem branch-es toward the top. Leaves arelarge, coarse and alternatealong the stem and branchesand have a distinctiveunpleasant odor.

Flowers are large (2 to 5inches long), tinted white topink, and funnel-shaped.Jimson weed flowers open inthe evening between 7 - 8 p.m.

The plant’s seed pod is aboutone inch in diameter, egg-shaped andcovered with short, very stiff spines. It con-tains many seeds.

Both foliage and seeds are poisonous.Jimson weed contains an alkaloid which is astomach poison. Certain people develop arash from touching the leaves.

Jimson weed grows in rich soils, feedlots,hog yards, barnyards, and sunny sites. It iscommon in the southern third of Wisconsin.

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P L A N T S T H AT C A U S E HAY F E V E RCommon ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

A member of the composite family, thepollen of common ragweed is a major causeof hay fever. Common ragweed is an annualplant which ranges in height from 1 to 3 feet.It is also called wild tansy, hog-weed, bitterweed, mayweed, hay fever weed andblackweed.

Common ragweed grows straight andhas many branches. The stems are rough and

covered with hairs. Leaves are deeply cutor lobed and look somewhat likecarrot leaves. The plant has separate

male and female flowers, all ofwhich lack petals. The seed isenclosed in a crown-shaped

woody hull.Common ragweed grows in

pastures, grain fields and along roads. Itproduces pollen profusely. Pollen is

shed from early August until the firstkilling frost. Common ragweed sheds

its pollen about the same time that golden-rod begins to flower. Goldenrod is oftenblamed for causing summer hay fever

while ragweed is an actual culprit.

Giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida)Giant ragweed, also a member of the

composite family, is an annual plant thatreproduces only by seed. It is a weed offloodplains and fertile farmland. It frequentlygrows along the edge of corn fields. Giantragweed ranges in height from 3 to 16 feet.

The leaves tend to be large and slightlyhairy with 3 to 5 lobes. Ragweed flowers haveno petals. Pollen is produced from Augustuntil frost kills the plants.

Giant ragweed pollen is a major cause ofsummer hay fever. It is also called greatragweed, kinghead, crown-weed, horse-weed, bitterweed and tall ambrosia. Giantragweed seeds are a food source for wildlife.

T H O R N Y, B A R B E D P L A N T SBull thistle (Cirsium vulgare)

Bull thistle, also called spear thistle, is abiennial plant which reproduces from seed.

Bull thistles grow as solitary plants unlikeCanada thistle, which forms dense patches ofplants. In the first year of its two-year lifecycle, bull thistle seed germinates and pro-duces a rosette of spiny leaves and a fleshy taproot. In the second year, the plant sprouts a2- to 4-foot branched stem, flowers, pro-duces seed and dies.

Reddish-purple to rose-colored flowersare produced in compact heads at the tips ofthe branches. Spiny bracts surround theflowers. Bull thistle seeds are attached to apappus, or parachute, which allows the windto disperse seeds.

Bull thistles grow in undisturbed soilsuch as pastures, lawns, roadbanks, and rail-road embankments. They prefer rich, moistsoils. Bull thistle seeds are blown in by thewind, and the weed is very common inlawns. Bull thistles are found throughoutWisconsin.

Beggar ticks (Bidens frondosa)A member of the composite family,

beggar ticks are also called stick-tights, devil’sbootjack, bur-marigold and pitchfork-weed.

Beggar ticks are annual plants that repro-duce by seed and grow to a height of 2 to 5feet. Branching occurs only near the top ofthe plant.

Beggar tick leaves grow opposite eachother and are deeply divided in a featherlikeformation. Flower heads are about one inchin diameter. The outside, or ray flowers, arebright yellow while the inside, or diskflowers are brownish yellow.

Seeds are flat, brown and equipped withtwo barbed fish-hook type spines that attachthemselves to clothing, hair and fur.

Beggar ticks grow in rich, moist soil suchas wet meadows and along streams. They growthroughout Wisconsin, especially in muck soils.

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Beggar ticks are a particular nuisance tohunters and hunting dogs.

Burdock (Arctium minus)Burdocks are biennial plants that repro-

duce by seed in waste areas, around buildingsand other undisturbed sites. They prefer rich,fertile soil. A member of the compositefamily, the burdock is also called clotbur,cuckoo-button and cockle-button.

In the first year of its life cycle, theplant produces a fleshy tap root and arosette of large leaves that look somewhat

like rhubarb.The next year the plant

grows a 3- to 6-foot hairy,grooved stem, produces flowers

and seed, and dies. Leaves are large andheart-shaped and arranged alternatelyon the stem.

Flowers are small, red-violet incolor and surrounded by hooked bracts

in the form of a bur. Burs are about one-half inch in diameter. The burs hook intoclothing, hair and fur. Slugs and other gardenpests are often found beneath burdocks.

Cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium)Cocklebur, also known as spiny clotbur,

clotweed, Spanish thistle and dagger cockle-bur, is an annual plant that reproduces by seed.It has a large, woody tap root and a stem thatreaches 2 to 4 feet in height. Stems are rough,hairy and covered with reddish spots.

Leaves are simple and triangular withlong petioles. They are arranged alternatelyalong the stem.

Flowers are enclosed in a spiny burcovered with hooked spines and two promi-nent curved spines or beaks.

The hard, prickly bur attaches to cloth-ing, hair and fur. Cocklebur seedlings arepoisonous to cattle.

Cocklebur grows in fields, abandonedlands, pastures and roadsides and can befound throughout Wisconsin.

Sandburs (Cenchrus longspinus)Sandburs are just plain nasty plants. A

member of the grass family, their othercommon names include bur-grass, sandbur-grass, bear-grass and hedgehog-grass.

Sandburs are annual warm season grassesthat produce seeds in spiny burs that stick tofur and clothing and injure the mouths ofanimals which have the misfortune to grazeon them.

Sandburs germinate after the danger ofspring frosts passes. The plants grow from 6inches to 2 feet tall. Sandburs have no flowerpetals. The spines on the burs have curvedbarbs which work into the flesh and canresult in infection. The weak stems of thegrass lie on the soil and form large mats.

Sandburs are associated with sandy soilsand drought conditions. They are found inpastures, fields, orchards, and crop land.

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Now that you know about some of thepotential problems caused by native wildlife,insects and plants, you can take precautionsto protect yourself or simply avoid theseoutdoor hazards. Most often, you can hike,hunt, picnic or enjoy other activities withlittle concern about dangerous plants andanimals. Some common sense and a healthyrespect for Wisconsin’s plants and wild crea-tures will go a long way toward maximizingyour enjoyment of the outdoors.

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A U T H O R S : Scott Craven is a professor of wildlife ecology, College of Agricultural and LifeSciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and an Extension wildlife specialist, University of Wisconsin-Extension, Cooperative Extension. Robert C. Newman is a professor emeritusof horticulture, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison.Phillip J. Pellitteri is a distinguished outreach specialist in the Department of Entomology,College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Editors: Bob Cooney and Meg GoresDesign: Susan AndersonIllustrations: Renée Graef

Produced by Cooperative Extension Publications.

An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, University of Wisconsin-Extension pro-vides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX requirements.

This publication is available from your Wisconsin county Extension office or from ExtensionPublications, Rm. 245, 30 N. Murray St., Madison, WI 53715; (608)262-3346.

G3564 O UT D OO R HA Z AR D S I N WI SC ON S I N : A Guide to Noxious Insects, Plants and Wildlife