[Paddlewise] Parsnip that eats paddlers.

Well, irritates.

I first came across wild parsnip 9 years and 11 months ago while 
canoeing the Nahanni River.  Evidently, it's spreading and is showing up 
in other areas.

While nasty to us, bears like to eat the roots, so if you see this stuff 
in the wild, you might see a bear if it's just the right time in the 
season.  I'd been warned of the bear risk when paddling the Nahanni, but 
the irritation factor was not well known.  It affected 9 out of 12 
paddlers in our group all from one wander into the woods for a hot 
spring swim.  It prevented some from hiking a couple of days later while 
the big blisters healed :-(.

If you think it looks like Queen Anne's Lace, that's because it's in the 
same family.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070621134058.htm

Mike
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