While the Nutmeg State may not exactly be a hotbed of danger, there are some risks of living in Connecticut. From a young age, there are things most of us learn to avoid, whether it’s venomous snakes (we have two species in Connecticut: the copperhead and the timber rattlesnake) or crime-ridden areas. Some scary things can be a little harder to avoid, though. There are plenty of plants out there that can be quite harmful when ingested by people or pets, but some flora are even scarier. There are plants that can cause quite a bit of damage, and even be deadly, just from touching them! There’s one especially toxic plant that looks quite benign that can be found in Connecticut. Check it out:

We're all familiar with poison ivy, which is quite prevalent in Connecticut and can cause itchy skin rashes.
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However, there are other poisonous plants in Connecticut, also. Among the most dangerous is poison hemlock.
Djtanng/Wikimedia Commons
Note that this is completely unrelated to the beautiful eastern hemlock tree, which is among the most common trees in the state. Confusingly enough, it's also not the same as water hemlock, which is also in Connecticut. That is a similar species that is also poisonous.
The hemlock plant is from the carrot family and native to Europe and North Africa, but it has spread all over the world and proven quite hardy.
Totnesmartin/Wikimedia Commons

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Hemlock is very poisonous, particularly the seeds and roots. All mammals that consume it will face ill effects, and an adult human can die in just a few hours if around six leaves are consumed.
Jacques Louis-David/Wikimedia Commons
One famous victim of hemlock poisoning is Greek philosopher Socrates, who was sentenced to death by drinking a hemlock concoction.
The main danger of hemlock comes from consuming it, but frighteningly enough, the alkaloids in it are so powerful that even inhaling or touching it can be dangerous. It can cause respiratory distress that can lead to death, especially if one has been exposed to it in large quantities.
Twistedpictures1/Wikimedia Commons
So what should you do if you come across poison hemlock? First, you'll want to don masks, long sleeves, and high-topped shoes. Dig up the entire plant, being careful to get the entire root system, then dispose of it with the rest of your yard waste.
John Munt/Flickr
Make sure to keep an eye on the area afterwards to make sure no more pops up.

Have you ever seen hemlock in Connecticut? Keep your eyes peeled, as this stuff is dangerous!

In need of gloves and other protective gear for gardening? Check out the great offerings at Backcountry – keeping covered will ensure you’re protected from other nasty dangers like ticks.

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