The recent reported closure of a trail near the Truckee River, due to the prevalance of poison hemlock, has also prompted Nevada County officials to remind livestock owners about other toxic plants and weeds. Agriculture Commissioner Chris de Nijs says hemlock is actually common throughout the county. But ranchers should also monitor the prevelance of oleander bushes, cockleburr, starthistle, and fiddleneck…

click to listen to Chris de Nijs

But de Nijs says he hasn’t received any recent reports of animal deaths or illnesses…

click to listen to Chris de Nijs

de Nijs says hemlock is from the parsely family and has a purple stock. He says it only takes eating about a half-percent of body weight to kill an animal, including pets. But hemlock may be more well-known for its killing of a person. That would be Socrates. In 399 BC, he was found guilty of what was described as “impiety against the pantheon of Athens”, and corruption of youth. His punishment was drinking a beverage with the poisonous weed. de Nijs says hemlock has been around in these parts since as far back as the early 1800’s.