Native Nasty

Day 282: Being highly undesirable and very prolific are not sufficient criteria for a plant to be considered "invasive." It must also be non-native, and in this case, Toxicodendron diversilobum...good old Pacific Poison Oak to you...escapes the classification by being a natural-born citizen of Washington state. That said, I was surprised to find it at 3000' and miles inland from its preferred habitat closer to the marine shores of Puget Sound, so much so that I felt the need to confirm its identity and referred it out. It was not a typical specimen in any event; stunted, spindly, it even lacked the oily sheen one generally associates with the species. How did it come to grow on Packwood Lake Trail #78? I suspect it was carried in by horse, seed caught in material embedded in a hoof. Horses and dogs are common vectors in the spread of invasives and undesirables, including ticks. Livestock and pets are allowed on many trails in National Forest, as opposed to National Park trails where they are prohibited. There are many reasons why those regulations are in place, and weed management is just one of them.