All of these books give a nice overview of the subject - and all are hard to find. I got them from Amazon.

We have a close relative of poison-ivy, called poison-oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum). If you are going to spend time in any wild places in southern California or northern Baja California (except in the deserts), it is very important that you learn to recognize this plant. It is a common component of the natural vegetation in coastal canyons, foothill chaparral, and forest systems throughout the region.

The best way to deal with Poison Ivy is to first properly identify it. In the spring Poison Ivy emerges as small red leaves. Soon it matures into a bright green leaf made up of 3 leaflets. It appears as a low shrub or climbing vine. In the spring and early summer you can try to control new poison ivy growth by spraying it with a non-selective herbicide containing glyphosate. These can be found at your local garden center or hardware store.

Theoretically, desensitization or allergy shots to poison ivy can be accomplished; however, practically it cannot be done. It has been tried in the past, and the side effects have been too great to warrant widespread use. Thus, at the present time, there is no available desensitization program for poison ivy or poison oak.

No, there are no poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac or any climbing plants in our area due to the cold climate.

ONGARD® needs to be applied every four hours. The reason is that the skin sloughs off skin particles after about four hours so any protectant should be re-applied every four hours.

Yes you can. Most animals have a protective skin that is immune to the urushiol oil in poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. The urushiol oil can remain on the surface of your pet’s fur or skin and when a human hand touches the animal, the urushiol oil can transfer to you.

Before you go outside, apply ONGARD® Skin Protectant to your hands and any other exposed skin that could touch the leaves on any poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac plant. If you stay outside, you should re-apply ONGARD® every four hours. If you touch any of those plants, be sure to wash off the sap from those plants with soap and water, and then dry your skin with a disposable paper towel.

No. Zanfel actually removes the toxin, urushiol oil, from the skin after contact has been made with the plant. There is no need to use it until you are certain you contacted the plant or when swelling and itching begin. In this way, you avoid wasting the product. Even if you use barrier or preventive creams, they may not always be effective and they do not shield your clothing. Oil on your clothing may contaminate you when you undress.

Per Erica G., "there is poison ivy on the island, but I've never actually seen it. I know its there, however, because my sister got it all over her arms up there once several years ago. It isn't very common though. My dad said there never used to be any up there when he was little. Some hiker must have tracked it in on their equipment or clothing."

Poison ivy is not controlled under the basic lawn care program. It may need a professional round up burn depending on the area and the amount of poison ivy present. We would have a manager inspect the area and give his recommendation for removal. To learn more about poison ivy, click here for another informative article.

Poison ivy is not routinely removed from park land unless it is near a playground, on a trail or other high-use area. Poison ivy is native to Virginia and is considered a natural part of our parks.

The differences are significant. ONGARD® does not contain alcohol so it doesn’t dry your skin. ONGARD® does not contain clay which will cake on your skin and wash off if you sweat or you get your skin wet. Also, ONGARD® contains allantoin which is an emollient that makes your skin feel good and it also helps heal minor cuts or bruises.

A:I've had Poison Oak numerous times, but never Poison Ivy. My sources tell me Poison Oak is a bit worse. A:There are only two kinds of people: Those who get Poison Oak, and those who are going to get it. In other words, though there are those who are immune to Poison Oak, their immunity does wear off with repeated exposure. Contrary to popular belief, the more you are exposed to poison oak, the worse the rash gets.

There are ways to prevent getting bug bites and poison ivy, which mainly consist of covering up EVERYTHING. Most campers however don’t walk around in snow gear during the summer months and try to take their chances with Bug Spray and avoiding poison ivy altogether. Upon the first hike our leaders show the campers what poison ivy looks like as well as areas it is prominent. As for the bugs…even with bug spray constantly being coated on, you are going to get bites.

We generally don't have much of a problem with mosquitos or other bugs. There is NO poison ivy or oak. The only snakes are those little harmless garter snakes we used to pick up when we were kids. On occassion, there are some strange looking black snail/slug things, but these are also harmless. Kids love 'em!

Yes. However, because of the nature of poison ivy (and like plants), we have found that TopicAid for Equines actually provides better relief.

Unless the resin from the Poison Ivy plant is still present on the skin, scratching the infected area will not spread it. According to Dr. Stephen Pennisi, Director of Toxicology and Clinical Science at Combe Incorporated, the makers of Lanacane®, the fluid inside the blisters that develop during an outbreak of Poison Ivy does not contain allergens. As long as the skin is washed in warm water and soap for about 20 minutes, there should be no resin left on the skin.

If you haven't had Poison Ivy by the time you are an adult, it is pure luck, not immunity. You may have even come in contact with the resin of the plant once, but the first-time contact only sensitizes you to the plant, rather than causing an outbreak. The next time you come in contact with the plant will prove just how immune or sensitive you are. Keep in mind, 90 percent of the U.S. population is sensitive to toxic plants like Poison Ivy.

Leaves of three, let it be??? is good advice, although in winter the best way to identify it is by its hairy vine.

In the continental U.S., poison ivy can be found just about everywhere since it grows well in most climates. Watch for it near trees, shrubs and along fence lines. In general, poison ivy grows east of the Rockies and poison oak to the west.

Urushiol is a toxic oil found in the poison ivy plant that can cause redness, severe itching and blistering. Contact with the rash-producing oil, urushiol, can occur: directly by touching the oil on the plant - even when the plant is leafless or dead. This irritant can stay active well after the weeds have died, so make sure to use extreme caution.

Poison ivy's super-strong root system makes it tough to eliminate it completely. Even when it's ripped out of the ground, the chance of eliminating all the roots is slim, and the weed will likely grow back. Eliminate it by spraying the leaves thoroughly until wet with Roundup® Poison Ivy & Tough Brush Killer Plus. The exclusive Roundup formula combines two of the best brush-killing ingredients and is guaranteed to kill poison ivy and other tough weeds to the root.

No. Rubbing a rash won't spread it to other parts of your body or to another person. The only way to spread it is if the plant's rash-causing oil, urushiol, is on hands or clothing. Always rinse skin thoroughly with plain, cool water and wash clothing and garden tools with hot, soapy water. And don't forget to wash Fluffy or Fido's fur, too, since pet fur can be a means of indirect contact with the irritant. It's best to contact your veterinarian about any specific concerns.

If you have buffer or clearing limits imposed on your property it will be necessary to receive relief from the agency, which imposed those limits.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the rash or oozing from blisters cannot be passed between persons, unless urushiol, an oily ingredient of the poison ivy plant that causes the rash, is still present on the skin of the affected individual. Urushiol is not present in the blister fluid. Urushiol may be present on clothing, tools, or pets and can remain active for up to a year. All exposed objects, including your skin should be thoroughly washed after any exposure.