Poisonous hemlock weed spotted in Fountain: What to do if you or your pet encounters it

FOUNTAIN, Colo. (KRDO) -- Poison hemlock was recently found along Bandley Drive by a City of Fountain work crew and has since been removed. However, this noxious weed blooms rapidly during the summer months and is known to be widespread across the state.

Poison Hemlock is part of the carrot family. During its first year of growth, its low-growing leaves can easily be mistaken for carrot tops or parsley, according to experts.

Then, in its second year, the plant blooms white flowers and can grow up to ten feet tall. 

Experts say the best way to stop the spread of Poison Hemlock is to catch it during the first year before it produces seeds. The easiest way to do this is by removing it manually.

“If you find Poison Hemlock in your backyard, it’s really important to get a proper identification before touching that plant. There’s lots of great apps that you can use on your phone for IDing that,” said
Allisa Zurbuchen, Horticulture Specialist at CSU Extension in El Paso County.

Hemlock thrives in moist areas such as creeks, ditches and drainage areas. Dr. James P. Graf of Fountain Creek Veterinary Clinic stressed the importance of keeping your pet on a leash near these areas and watching which plants you walk through.

If your pet ingests Poison Hemlock, some of the immediate signs are vomiting, diarrhea, tremors and shaking. If you notice these symptoms or know that your pet ate Hemlock, you should seek veterinary care right away.

Humans are not likely to ingest the plant, but contact by touch can still be harmful. You can protect yourself when removing Poison Hemlock by wearing gloves and full-coverage clothing.

“You might want to wear a mask because for some people, touching the plant can cause rash-like symptoms, especially if you get any of the sap inside of a broken stem, for example, on your skin,” Zurbuchen said.

The Master Gardeners of Colorado State University Extension in El Paso County host a help desk that you can send photos to if you need help identifying poisonous hemlock. They operate in-person seasonally on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

They are located at 17 N. Spruce Street in Colorado Springs. They can also answer your questions on Zoom after hours on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

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