In the day and age where nearly every New Yorker is on social media, one of the many perks of being tuned into this large network is the fact that you can find out about major news much more quickly. Recently, the New York State Department of Environmental shared a post on their official Facebook page that alerted our residents of a potential threat that could be growing in your own backyard. Known to cause significant health issues, find out which invasive plants are running ramped through the Empire State this year and why you’ll want to stay far, far away from them.

Spreading at a fast rate through New York, this year there are not one but two large plants that you’ll want to keep an eye out for and avoid.

NYS DEC/Flickr

According to the NYS DEC, both Giant Hogweed and Wild Parsnip have become quite problematic here in our state and they’re calling on New Yorkers to report any sightings of the plants.

Gavin Edmondstone/Flickr

According to the most recent data, you can see that nearly every one of New York’s 62 counties have active sites AKA Giant Hogweed and Wild Parsnip growing - an alarming sight to see mapped out.

NYSDEC

If you’re unfamiliar with Giant Hogweed, it’s classified as a noxious weed here in New York - with white flower heads that an grow to be more than 2-feet in diameter.

debs-eye/Flickr

Massive plants that can grow to be more than 14-feet tall with leaves that reach up to 5-feet wide, Giant Hogweed are known to cause severe skin burns.

NYS DEC/Flickr

Posing as a serious health concern to everyone living in the Empire State, the sap of these plants can lead to things like painful blistering, permanent scarring, and in some cases even blindness.

antefixus21/Flickr

The other plant you’ll want to avoid is Wild Parsnip, a slightly smaller but still large invasive plant that’s known to grow up to 5-feet tall and has large “celery-like” leaves.

Dan Mullen/Flickr

So, what exactly makes Wild Parsnip such a danger? The sap in Wild Parsnip actually contains chemicals known as furanocoumarins, something that can make your skin more vulnerable to ultraviolet light.

NYS DEC/Flickr

If you’ve seen this plant anywhere recently, the NYS DEC is requesting that all New Yorkers report their sightings of both Giant Hogweed and Wild Parsnip to iMapInvasive.

antefixus21/Flickr Growing everywhere from your backyard and the roadside to open fields and pastures, it’s important that you’re on the lookout for these plants this year. To learn more about the dangers of both Giant Hogweed and Wild Parsnip, check out the official NYS DEC rundown here.

To learn more about other potential dangers in our state, be sure to read about how You Won’t Be Happy To Hear That New York Is Experiencing A Major Surge Of Ticks This Year!

NYS DEC/Flickr

Gavin Edmondstone/Flickr

NYSDEC

debs-eye/Flickr

antefixus21/Flickr

Dan Mullen/Flickr

Growing everywhere from your backyard and the roadside to open fields and pastures, it’s important that you’re on the lookout for these plants this year. To learn more about the dangers of both Giant Hogweed and Wild Parsnip, check out the official NYS DEC rundown here.

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