Poison Ivy & other fun nature things...

[Gabrielle]

I love spending time outdoors, wondering through the wilderness, occasionally taking naughty pics of my boobs, shhhhh don't tell

However, I have no idea how to identify poison ivy, sumac or other itchy icky things. Oh then there's snakes and frog and bees...who can help me tell the poison ones from the non poisonous?

Help!

In person demonstrations could happen also. If there's interest I can start a happy hour thread in co-ed.

[DrivesAllDay]

Poison Ivy is easy! Leaves of 3 let it be.





Snake-wise in PA we dont have many venomous snakes. Copperheads, Rattlesnakes, thats about it. Venomous snakes have a triangular shaped head.


Best of all- Snakes would like to avoid you too! They'll try to slither off before you get too close.


Bees wont bother you. Wasps dare you to fight them. Hornets just dont give a fuck & will sting you just for existing.




I'd worry more about skunks or rabid raccoons when I'm out in the woods.

[mrjeff1977]

I was camping and saw baby bear. It worried me because I knew mommy bear was not that far. away

[yinzerpgh]

If you spend any amount of time outdoors in PA, I would be just as concerned (maybe more) about ticks as poison plants. And you don't necessarily have to be in the woods; they're everywhere in PA



I have a friend who got Lyme disease 5 years ago and she's still suffering from it.

[DrivesAllDay]

From what I have read on Lyme Disease, there is a vaccine for it... but it's only approved for use in Dogs. Oddly enough it was developed for humans too, The vaccine manufacturer discontinued production in 2002, citing insufficient consumer demand.

[Ivan0610]

If you need a body guard in the woods im your man

[sexymaid_69]

http://www.snake-removal.com/venomous.html

Snakes rarely attack unless disturbed or threatened with the exception of the black racer which can be large and will chase you. (Non venomous)

Cider vinegar wipe down will not only relieve bug bites but in most cases will prevent them. Safer than off except for the no see ums I find on the streams, then it's a face net from the top of the hat to my collar.
Also if you ingest a lot of sugar you're kinda the target.

Poison ivy is easily remedied with a soap made with the sap of the "Jewelweed" plant.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impatiens_capensis

The soap is available at most outdoor and feed stores.
The sap can also be applied directly if you think you've been exposed, find the Jewelweed and squish the sap out from the bottom of the stalk first.
It works for other poisonous weeds but oddly enough flourishes near poison ivy.

I am regularly in the woods, highly susceptible to poison ivy, oak and sumac. Former scout who payed attention during nature lectures.

[Looker151]

I'm with ya on that one Jinny, if I look at ivy or oak wrong, I got it. But that doesn't keep me from fishing, just have to be careful.

[doug300]

LOL welcome to my world. 75% of my county is either state game lands or Alleghany National Forest. We are up to 4 red lights in town. its 10 miles to the next town with 2 red lights. Yes we have had timber rattlers on Main St. they fall off log trucks at times. On my way to work one day last month noticed a black blob few houses away in the yard. Bear over slept. Best part of this is riding the Harley 8 hours covering 350 miles and never once seeing a 4 lane highway! Worse part is providers are mostly 2.5 hours away no matter what direction I go.

[sexymaid_69]

Originally Posted by doug300

LOL welcome to my world. 75% of my county is either state game lands or Alleghany National Forest. We are up to 4 red lights in town. its 10 miles to the next town with 2 red lights. Yes we have had timber rattlers on Main St. they fall off log trucks at times. On my way to work one day last month noticed a black blob few houses away in the yard. Bear over slept. Best part of this is riding the Harley 8 hours covering 350 miles and never once seeing a 4 lane highway! Worse part is providers are mostly 2.5 hours away no matter what direction I go.

I kinda envy you right now.

[flows-with-water]

Originally Posted by sexymaid_69

I kinda envy you right now.

Me to.

[Gabrielle]

OMG I'm itchy reading this. But I love, love, love the outdoors.

I definitely need the help identifying all the poisonous and hard things in nature.

[1pittsburgh]

Originally Posted by DrivesAllDay

Snake-wise in PA we dont have many venomous snakes. Copperheads, Rattlesnakes, thats about it. Venomous snakes have a triangular shaped head.

Just to make it 100% clear for people, venomous snakes in PA have triangular shaped heads, because all of the species are pit vipers, but not all venomous snakes have triangular heads. In florida for example, the coral snake is venomous, but does not have a triangular head. Cobras are another example but we don't have them in the US.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_snake

As for the PI, there are also a few imposters around, so for me the little thumb like part at the base of the leaf is how I tell it from the imposters. I don't think we have Oak or Sumac around here.

[doug300]

Originally Posted by sexymaid_69

I kinda envy you right now.

Thats a first!! Nice to be envied but I don't think I will get used to it. Come on up...ride the bike for hours, see the sights and relax!

[sexymaid_69]

I would but I'm getting ready to go to my own place in the BFE.
Sleeping in, hiking and fishing.