+kc0dwx Posted April 25, 2006 Share Posted April 25, 2006 Ok, this has probably been covered somewhere but here we go anyway. Would it be wrong for a cacher to carry a bottle of poison ivy killing herbicide to spot treat PI in the general area of caches? What are your thoughts on this. Quote Link to comment
+What rock? Posted April 25, 2006 Share Posted April 25, 2006 When I was a kid the boys used to pee on it to kill it. Seriously, the environmentalists think it should be left alone. People like me want it gone. The itching is miserable! Quote Link to comment
+carleenp Posted April 26, 2006 Share Posted April 26, 2006 I don't know. The personal hatred of icky plants side of me says go for it! But the side of me that says to not mess with nature says no. Perhaps some of it would depend where it was. I figure in truly wild areas, things should should be left "wild." Or in some areas, the park might not like the idea of people killing plants, even the icky ones. Yet a common urban family type park might desire to kill the stuff themelves and would welcome a person doing it for them. In the end I just don't know.... Quote Link to comment
+KoosKoos Posted April 26, 2006 Share Posted April 26, 2006 If it's not your land, I say don't go spreading herbicides around. or taking a machete to every poisionous snake you see, or spreading poison for all those biting bugs, etc., etc., etc. If you see it in a park area, check for organizations doing eradication and offer to help out. We have several work days in our town to remove non-native plants and poisonous or invasive plants in "managed" areas. The key is to do it with permission of the landowner. Quote Link to comment
+webscouter. Posted April 26, 2006 Share Posted April 26, 2006 Also you should know that the berries are eaten by many birds and the foliage is food for deer and other small mammals. So even though it is a pain for us it is useful for the forest creatures. (If you are very observant it won't be a pain in the a**) Quote Link to comment
+BlueDeuce Posted April 26, 2006 Share Posted April 26, 2006 (edited) Ok, this has probably been covered somewhere but here we go anyway. Would it be wrong for a cacher to carry a bottle of poison ivy killing herbicide to spot treat PI in the general area of caches? What are your thoughts on this. If it's not your property, yes it would be wrong. Just ask the park ranger if you can remove it and if there is a prescribed/authorized method. Who knows maybe they'll let you. I do know that they report the most common area for PI growth is where they mow next to woods. Watch those entry points! Edit: Oh, and killing the plant doesn't remove the hazard. You have to actually remove the stalk and leaves. Edited April 26, 2006 by BlueDeuce Quote Link to comment
+KoosKoos Posted April 26, 2006 Share Posted April 26, 2006 (If you are very observant it won't be a pain in the a**) You see, doc...I was sitting down to sign this logbook...turns out there was PI around...and well, I now have a pain in my...... Quote Link to comment
+carleenp Posted April 26, 2006 Share Posted April 26, 2006 (edited) So even though it is a pain for us it is useful for the forest creatures. (If you are very observant it won't be a pain in the a**) I am soooo glad that so far I am not allergic to poison ivy! Knowing me, I would not look and get it in stupid ways/places! Edited April 26, 2006 by carleenp Quote Link to comment
+wandersfar Posted May 4, 2006 Share Posted May 4, 2006 As I type my iches are a driving me nuts..... I have been around the stuff for years and years and i finally ran out of luck....... if you are the cache hider --- dont spray --- just place the cache in a spot where the stuff isnt.... now this is hard in winter because you cant always tell where it is..... the idea is to get people to your cache.... I avoid caches where there is pi but this last time out I didnt see it...but if your cache takes exposing to much to pi Ill pass it up and i am sure others would too... so be carefull on your placement.... (scratch, scratch) Quote Link to comment
The GSP Crew Posted May 7, 2006 Share Posted May 7, 2006 If I remember right even if you kill Poison Ivy you can still get by coming in contact with the dead plant. It's the oil on the leaf that is bad. In order not to get it you would have to completely remove the plant from the area. Quote Link to comment
+carleenp Posted May 7, 2006 Share Posted May 7, 2006 If I remember right even if you kill Poison Ivy you can still get by coming in contact with the dead plant. It's the oil on the leaf that is bad. In order not to get it you would have to completely remove the plant from the area. I believe this is right. I think the oil stays around for some time. Don't know for sure though. Quote Link to comment
+geognerd Posted May 8, 2006 Share Posted May 8, 2006 And you absolutely SHOULD NOT burn poison ivy. You're screwed if you breathe in the smoke (lung, respiratory infections), and those downwind can also get a rash from coming in contact with the smoke. Quote Link to comment
Phantom_Dog Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 the environmentalists think it should be left alone. Not true! Poison ivy is somewhat invasive to forest habitats. It typically only grows under openings under the canopy (along trails). Environmentalists want it gone but do not want to deal with the itching from handling it. Quote Link to comment
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