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​Outdoor Safety
The more you know, the safer you are.

The Poisonous Flowering Bush on the PCT in California: Poodle-Dog Bush

3/23/2016

10 Comments

 
Picture
Photo from www.photographyontherun.com

**Latest Update: Poodle bush is present at the beginning of Section D of the PCT west of Highway 15 in the Cajon Pass area. 


The nearly 6ft tall, purple flowered bush native to California known as Poodle-Dog Weed is a beauty. It’s blossoms provide stark and lively contrast against the char black of burned forest. In fact, that’s where it thrives, in areas wrecked by fire or flooding. But this flowering bush is not without thorns. Anything more than a glance with Poodle-dog Weed will produce a painfully itchy and blistered rash that can last up to two weeks. 

There’s nothing more irritating than an itch you can’t scratch. Unfortunately, there are no quick remedies for it. Treatment mainly involves hydrocortisone creams or calamine lotion and cool compresses for itch relief. Blisters should not be popped and refrain from damaging skin with intense over scratching. Infections can result from ruptured blisters and scratches that become open sores. If any gear or clothing comes in contact with the weed, rinse it generously with water. 

Prevention and planning ahead are your biggest friends. Know what Poodle-Dog Bush looks like: tall with long clustered leaves, blue or purple bell-like flowers, and a rather rank smell. Wear long pants and sleeves, and consider carrying an anti-itch cream in your first aid kit. Check if your hike is through any burned forest areas.  And when in doubt, treat any suspected plant as guilty until proven otherwise.

For more information about Poodle-Dog Bush visit: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eriodictyon_parryi 

Have you seen this plant on the trail? If so, where? Leave us a comment below.
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Safe Adventures from Base Medical! 
10 Comments
Debbie George
1/21/2017 09:01:39 pm

Poodle bush is present at the beginning of Section D of the PCT west of Highway 15 in the Cajon Pass area. There was a fire in this area last summer.

Reply
John B.
12/1/2018 04:47:56 pm

Poodle dog is rampant on the old Mt. Wilson trail approach. Be ware!

Reply
kbmdc.org/ link
4/4/2017 04:38:47 am

Feeding and taking good care for your pets are not enough. As life creatures, giving them freedom and understanding their emotional states are equally important matters in establishing a healthy and happy relationship with your dog.

Reply
Base Medical
6/9/2017 03:09:24 am

Thanks, Debbie! We added your update!

Reply
homework help link
7/3/2018 02:35:47 pm

These are poison for eat that animal will eat they will be after the suspensions of the time will die all. Responsible for the forest and mountain cleaning those to remove those herbs which are simply poison to eat by mistakes are of the animals.

Reply
RDIE
5/2/2019 05:10:23 pm

It is inside Bichota Canyon just above its mouth as of 5-1-19. Very large plants and can be detected from its smell from approximately 30 feet.

Reply
Paul
5/23/2019 04:24:45 pm

I ran in Malibu Creek last Sunday, a recovering fire area, and the trails were covered in Poodle-Dog. Although we rubbed down after running with alcohol my did not get her ankles and she got it pretty bad. This is a bad ass plant and should be avoided at all costs.

Reply
Greg
6/16/2019 04:33:46 am

Hello,

I did a 6 mile (roundtrip) hike on the Howard Creek Trail. This trail was filled with the poodle dog bush. I did not know what it was had a lot of contact with it.

If you see this message, can you please contact me through email? I need to know what preventive treatments I can do before any rash start showing the next few hours/days.

Thank you so much!

Reply
akiko
7/13/2019 04:20:07 pm

the Mt Wilson trail single track portion right before reaching the parking lot at the top is filled with very tall and over reaching poodle dogs. This area was burnt from fire couple of years ago.

Reply
Laura Kranzler
5/11/2020 06:54:43 am

Pretty certain we saw this plant on Snyder Trail in Los Padres National Forest. Is there a way to attach a picture to you to confirm?
Thanks

Reply



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