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| Poison ivy berries (right). J. Schaeffer |
Most of us learned the adage "Leaves of three, leave them be" as children, an easily remembered (if overly broad) warning of the discomfort that the trio of poison ivy leaves can cause. But in the fall, we also need to be aware of poison ivy's white berries, which have broken off the vine and lurk innocently atop fallen leaves. Be careful during leaf collecting and raking to avoid touching the grape-like clusters, which also contain the offending oil urushiol.
The berries are a very important food source for wildlife during winter. Many songbirds consume them during migration, and our winter residents, including flickers, sapsuckers, other woodpeckers, robins, quail and pheasant, consume the berries during fall and winter--a time when other food is scarce.
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| Poison ivy berries. J. Schaeffer |
