Field Safety

1. Field Safety Environmental Explorations

2. Field Biology • Dangers to the student • Dangers to the environment

3. 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

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

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

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

7. Poisonous snakes • Only 2 in Loudoun County • Copperhead • Timber rattlesnake

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

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

10. 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

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

12. The End