WAKEFIELD — John Diddams of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development spoke on invasive species Tuesday at the Wakefield Loggers Jamboree.
Diddams said that one of the biggest issues in Gogebic County is giant hogweed, which is a hazard to humans. It can cause blistering, burning and scarring; and children in England have gone blind from using the large stalks as ‘telescopes.’
Gogebic County is the largest giant hogweed site in Michigan. It looks a lot like cow parsnip, “but on steroids,” said Diddams.
The stem of giant hogweed is two to four inches in circumference and the...