Residents should be on the lookout for this nasty weed that appears in ditches and fields throughout the Township. The Township has been taking a proactive approach to help eliminate the recurrence of this weed by completing our roadside spraying program with the United Counties of Leeds & Grenville each spring.
Wild parsnip has a chemical that causes phytophotodermatitis: inflammation of the skin induced by a plant with the help of sunlight.
If you come in contact with the weed, your skin will feel like it has been scalded. It reddens and then a day or two later, after sun exposure, it blisters. More sensitive areas like the face, neck, arms, torso and legs are most vulnerable. The blisters then rupture and the skin begins to heal. The discolouration of the skin where the burn occurred however can last for as long as two years.
For more information on wild parsnip, how to identify it and manage it safely please visit the United Counties of Leeds & Grenville Weed Control page on their website as well as our Public Works & Operations page.