By Brent Bosker/CKOM News Staff

Sask. rancher warns about wild parsnip growing in province

Jul 17, 2018 | 7:51 AM

It’s not a weed to be taken lightly.

Rancher Layne Abrahamson is warning people to be on the lookout for wild parsnip, after he recently found the invasive weed growing in the rural municipality of Rudy, near Outlook.

“If you touch it without gloves on, it can cause huge blisters on your skin and temporary or permanent blindness,” he tweeted Monday.

Layne, who also works as a weed inspector for the rural municipality, posted about his discovery on social media in hopes of spreading the word
to prevent anyone from coming in contact.

“It is very very dangerous,” Abrahamson told 650 CKOM.

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“I spotted it in the RM of Rudy last year and I sprayed it. I saw that it has reappeared this year … and I’m going to be spraying it again.”

People and animals are at risk if they contact the plant’s sap from broken stems, leaves or flowers.

While wild parsnip was designated a noxious weed by the province in 2010, it’s been a problem for longer.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the main infestations are along Highway 48 from Vibank to Kipling, between Saskatoon and Rosthern and Highway 40 from Cutknife to Neilburg.

Ministry spokesperson Lauren Golosky said populations have been on the rise over the last decade due to above average moisture, however, there have been very few incidents involving people.

Abrahamson would like to keep it that way.

“There’s no second chance. If someone gets it in their eye, there’s no way back.”

Any sightings of wild parsnip or questions about the plant can be directed to invasives@npss.sk.ca.