Creating awareness of Noxious Plants

Letter to Editor

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Dear Editor;

This information may help many ...

I have great news to report.   Saugeen Shores has 'beefed up' their spraying program and the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority has promised to spray on the properties they own for the infestation of Noxious Plants.

It is not just Giant Hogweed that is needing to be controlled, but many other poisonous and noxious plants.

Arran-Elderslie has been very proactive and destroyed their poisonous plants also. Many of the areas have now been looked after.

If you see any other areas of concern, please let your municipal staff or the landowner know. Also remember that so many of the plants, look like other plants.  For example, Angelica Weed, looks so much like Giant Hogweed, and people have told me they made whistles out of the hollow stems from the plants. ***Do not do this with Giant Hogweed!  Eight children died in the 1930's in Ontario from doing this all within minutes of each other, and after 15-20 minutes of the exposure. If you are not sure, please do not be afraid to ask.

Remember, that some people like children, or people with compromised immune systems, or those already under the influence of a toxin (like alcohol suffering from other toxins in their body) will be more at risk of more serious damage.  Exposure to the plants affect many systems of the body, and is serious for many.

Even if you just get a rash from it, be aware there will be some compromise on your body functions for approximately a month, even if you recover from the exposure. If you keep getting re-exposed you will suffer greater, and longer.

The town staff in Saugeen Shores is excellent, and I have received great co-operation from all I have dealt with. The Works Department are doing an excellent job, and this of course is not their only job to do.  They are however, concentrating on the Giant Hogweed and will also spray where ever you report seeing Noxious weeds on Town Properties.

If everyone looks after their own properties, and practices good land stewardship, it will be under control. If someone is non-compliant, please ask them to contact Mr. Bill Jones, and he will send his staff person out to contact the landowner. Most people who are non-compliant are usually simply unaware.

The County Weed Inspector has a very important role to play as he identifies areas that communities may be  unsure of, and our town staff rely on his expert opinion.

Many of the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority properties are the headland waters of the Saugeen River. There are some areas that are almost impossible to spray however, with a "beefed-up" spray program, there should be a great improvement.

The control factor comes with destroying the plant before it goes to seed. There are only a few staff at the SVCA with a spraying license therefore, it will take time. The spray is apparently minimal, and causes less damage to people, soil, the environment, animals and the water, than do the noxious and poisonous plants.

There is much confusion with the Weed Act of Ontario. It is long, but is very clear. Giant Hogweed, is covered under the category of Noxious and Poisonous Plants, and must be destroyed as are other plants that fit this category.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Website is an excellent resource and is user friendly. Remember, plants that are deadly to cattle are deadly to people and pets.

In this part of Ontario, we have noxious weeds that cause great hardship for crop and pasture landowners.  Some are of no value to livestock, but also "suck the living life" out of the soil. They leave the land useless, until destroyed and then costly fertilizers have to be added to improve production. They also crowd out native plants.

My concern for raising the "alarm bell" at this time is for our young people's safety.   I am most concerned about young people coming into contact with the poisonous plants while travelling down the "Mighty Saugeen" during the summer.  Personal awareness is the best tool for protection.

We cannot expect that there will be none of these plants, but hopefully they will become fewer.  There are steps people can take, such as, wearing appropriate clothing when hiking, and canoeing. Also, remember that pets and livestock can bring these toxins back to us, so always protect yourself accordingly.

We have so much to be so very thankful for. Heck, we live on the Saugeen River, how much better could it get?

Happy Trails,

Lynn Thede

Giant Hogweed

Characterized by its size and may grow to 5 to 7 metres in height. It is similar to Cow-Parsnip, (Heraculeum maximum or Heracleum lanatum). It has a stout dark reddish-purple stem and spotted leaf stalks. The stalks and stem produce sturdy pustulate bristles. The stem and stalks are hollow and the stems may be 5 to 10 cm in diameter. The compound leaves of giant hogweed may reach breadths of over one metre. Each leaflet is deeply incised. The inflorescence (flower cluster) is a broad flat-topped umbel composed of many small white florets. Each inflorescence/umbel may attain a diameter of 0.7 m.

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Monday, July 05, 2010