Yes, Boise Poison Ivy grows in winter. Here’s how to identify the plant, contact symptoms – AOL

This is not a new phenomenon in Boise, but always brings an annual reminder: Watch out for poison ivy in the valley of the treasures.

The three-leaf plant, which causes itchy red rash and blisters, is most often associated with spring and summer, but do not remove your guards; Poison Ivy poses a danger to tourists and walking trails throughout the year.

Poison Ivy, which secrets poisonous oil on everything that touches it, is a local vegetable species in Idaho and is recently found in the area of ​​the scale of the rock, which causes concerns about the spread of the species.

Unfortunately for Idahoans, it doesn’t go anywhere.

“The poison Ivy is growing here; Native, it’s from here, “Boise Parks and Recreation Martha Brabec told Idaho’s holding.

As it is a local plant, Boise and RC parks can’t do much for their spread.

“There are probably some benefits related to being in the ecosystem because it is a local plant,” Brak continued. “Much of our focus on outdoor reserves on parks and recreation property are invasive species or harmful weed control. And Poison Ivy does not fall into these categories because it is a local plant. “

Avoiding poison ivy

So if Boise Parks and RC can’t do much to control the weed, what can be done to avoid it?

“The number one thing we offer to people is to know how to identify it, to stay on the path, and if you leave the path, do this at your own risk, especially if you do not know what poisonous Ivy looks,” Brak said.

The general saying to avoid poison ivy is “leaves of three, let it be,” said Brahk, but there are other ways to identify it through its different stages of growth.

Brak said that in the warmer months, along with the easy identification of three leaves per stem, the leaves of poison ivy would look shiny and somewhat greasy. During the fall, the leaves of poison ivy become bright red and fall to the ground, said Brak, but the stems of the plant can still deposit poison oil on humans and cause rashes.

In the winter, the new stalks of poison ivy will grow from the ground and will be accompanied by white fruits that are as poisonous as the leaves and stems.

Boise Parks and RC have received reports of poison ivy growing in the treasure valley, from the foot to Boise Greenbelt.

There is no rhyme or reason where the ivy grows, Brak said, but he often grows on walls, fences and trunks upwards. If a resident has problems with it, they are welcome to call Boise Parks and Rec, Brebeck said, but unless Ivy prevents the public path, there is nothing to do much.

“It is supposed to be here,” Brak said. “There is an inherent risk of being out as a whole, and one of the really important things people need to know is how to identify poison ivy.”

How to prevent and treat a rash of poison ivy

Poison ivy oils can hold on to anything that touches the plant for a long time – mainly, while everything that touches is not washed – according to the American Administration for Food and Medicines. This may include clothes, pets and gardening tools.

Fortunately, although weed oil can be transferred from one object to another, the rash is not contagious, according to the FDA. Even if the rash appears to be spread, it is or because the oils are absorbed at different speeds, repeated exposure to an object with poison ivy or oil is trapped under the nails.

Prevention

You can prevent exposure to poison ivy by regularly washing gardening tools and wearing long sleeves and pants with waterproof gloves if you think you can work around poison ivy.

Although pets are usually not susceptible to poison ivy, the oils can stick to their coat and should be washed with water and pet shampoo while wearing rubber gloves.

If you think you are in contact with poison ivy, wash your skin in soap and cool water as soon as possible to remove all oils still absorbed.

Treatment

It cannot be done much to accelerate the healing process of poison ivy – the rash, blisters and itching will go away within a few weeks without treatment.

But you can relieve the symptoms.

You can relieve itching by compressing a wet cloth on the rash or soaking it in cool water. Local corticosteroids without a prescription-as clobetazole and hydrocortisone-can also be administered to the affected area to relieve itching.

FDA recommends against scratching blisters as bacteria under the nails can cause infection. FDA recommends seeing a doctor if:

• You have a temperature above 100 degrees.

• There is pus, soft yellow scabies or tenderness on the rash.

• The itching continues to get worse or keeps you awake at night.

• Inflammation spreads to the eyes, mouth and genital area or covers more than a quarter of your skin.

• The rash does not improve within a few weeks.

• The rash is widespread and heavy.

• You have difficulty breathing.