The toxic agent causing all of our trouble is a sap containing urushiol which is an oil that can remain potent over lengthy periods of time, contaminating any surface with which it has come in contact.
So how can one protect oneself?!
I never re-wear gardening clothing without washing them. I always wash any exposed skin on my hands or arms twice with a dishwashing liquid whenever I come in from the garden. And, finally, if I spy a new poison ivy plant I pull up the long plastic bags that are used to to protect my newspaper over both hands and arms. Then I pull up the plant by its roots. I grasp all the plant material in one protected hand and pull the second bag down over my second arm and then over my first arm so that everything held in the first hand cannot make skin contact.
Here is a link to a useful video.
I know the birds love poison ivy berries, but that plant is one I wouldn’t mind seeing go extinct!
Great post!
Timely Information. Leaves of three leave Alone! Thank you.
Is it true that if the have been in contact with Poison Ivy without any reaction, it does not mean you are immune, you could get it from your next contact.
I have heard things like that but I have no idea if it is true. If you had no reaction once, and you are very brave, you could test it out very carefully. But be aware that although Dante did not use itching in one of his levels of Hell, I think it would have been highly useful there.
I was immune (and carefree) until in my 40s. I was collecting earthworms along Palisade Ave fence. The worms well easily collected along with masses of soil and mosses, good for terraria. I got it bad & many afters.