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Engaging in field biology allows students to explore natural environments, but it comes with inherent risks. This guide outlines potential dangers, including poisonous plants like poison ivy and pokeweed, and threats from local wildlife such as copperhead and timber rattlesnakes. It emphasizes the importance of snake safety and awareness of allergic reactions. Additionally, it highlights environmental hazards like littering and the improper disposal of chemicals, encouraging responsible behaviors to safeguard both students and their surroundings.
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Field Safety Environmental Explorations
Field Biology • Dangers to the student • Dangers to the environment
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
Pokeweed Poisonous berries Used as a natural dye Cooked leaves are eaten by some people
Canadian Thistle Invasive plant from Canada Leaves can cause scratches and allergic reactions
Bees and wasps Most do not sting But you don’t know which ones do or don’t
Poisonous snakes • Only 2 in Loudoun County • Copperhead • Timber rattlesnake
Copperhead Found in Ashburn Aggressive especially in hot weather Occurs in fields and even yards
Timber rattlesnake Not in Ashburn Can be found on the Blue Ridge Mountain Not as aggressive as the copperhead Has a distinct rattle warning
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
Dangers to the environment • Littering • Throwing chemicals on the ground • Releasing lab animals into the schoolyard • Breaking branches • Killing insects
