A highly toxic plant called spotted water hemlock has been discovered in Eddy County, prompting a warning from NDSU Extension. The plant grows 3 to 5 feet tall in wet areas like ditches and stream banks, with white umbrella-shaped flower clusters appearing in July and August.
All parts of the plant are poisonous to people and livestock, especially cattle and horses. Even touching the sap can cause severe skin reactions in sunlight. Children and small animals are particularly vulnerable.
If you find this plant, don’t pull it by hand or burn it – contact NDSU Extension instead. The best time for herbicide treatment is after a frost. Use extreme caution in wet areas where this dangerous plant may be growing.
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