Environmental Explorations

Field Biology Dangers to the student Dangers to the environment

Poison Ivy Causes painful itchy rash One of the first plants to get red leaves in the fall Oil from the plant causes the allergic reaction Can be spread all over your body and between people Occurs as vine and short plants

Pokeweed Poisonous berries Used as a natural dye Cooked leaves are eaten by some people

Canadian Thistle Invasive plant from Canada Leaves can cause scratches and allergic reactions

Bees and wasps Most do not sting But you don’t know which ones do or don’t

Poisonous snakes Only 2 in Loudoun County Copperhead Timber rattlesnake

Copperhead Found in Ashburn Aggressive especially in hot weather Occurs in fields and even yards

Timber rattlesnake Not in Ashburn Can be found on the Blue Ridge Mountain Not as aggressive as the copperhead Has a distinct rattle warning

Snake safety If you see a snake, let a teacher know immediately Do not approach the snake It is probably a black snake common to Ashburn Poisonous snakes have vertical pupils If you can see his eyes you are too darn close Do not run or scream Snakes can strike up to 1 ½ times their length

Dangers to the environment Littering Throwing chemicals on the ground Releasing lab animals into the schoolyard Breaking branches Killing insects

The End