New Toxic Weed Species ...?

Hope I’m posting this in the right place ~

A friend from Michigan, where I like to fish every now and then, has just sent me an email warning about “hog weed” getting started there. Now, I never heard of the stuff, but thought I’d post it here for a heads up and maybe for anyone else who might have some info.

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/hogweed.asp

It’s rampant in southern Ontario Canada. Just about every river system I know and fish has this every where. I have known about it here for at least 4-5 years.

Thanks tiq ~

On another board I got a reply with the known distribution of the weed ~ darn, I had no idea of the stuff and here I’ve been rompin’ stompin’ all around rivers and streams, and that’s where it is supposed to grow real abundantly!

http://plants.usda.gov/maps/large/HE/HEMA17.png

First heard about it in Ohio, also about 5 years ago. I don’t know how big of a problem it is here, but I remember reading an OH Dept of Ag flyer about invasive species to be on the lookout.