June Weed of the Month: Poison Hemlock Noxious Weed Status Change
Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum L.), a toxic herbaceous plant, was initially categorized in 2018 as a Prohibited Eradicate species on the Minnesota Noxious Weed List due to its toxicity and limited known range. Prohibited Eradicate species are the highest priority noxious weeds in Minnesota and must be destroyed. They are either not present in Minnesota or are not widely established. Since 2018, surveying and mapping efforts have revealed that poison hemlock is widespread in southern Minnesota, spreading through waterways and rail corridors. Given the continued discovery of new infestations and the increased difficulty in management, poison hemlock was reclassified in 2023 to the Prohibited Control category on the Noxious Weed List.
Regulations for Prohibited Control species mandate that efforts must be made to prevent seed from maturing and plants from being dispersed into new areas. There may be no transportation, propagation, or sale of these plants. Failure to comply may result in enforcement action by the county or local municipality.
Poison hemlock is a member of the carrot family and is commonly found on roadsides, in pastures, along streambanks, and in ditches. It is a biennial and produces a low-growing rosette in its first year of growth that matures the following year into a tall flowering stalk growing up to 8 feet. The stems of the plant are hollow, ridged, hairless, and have purple spots/mottles. Its leaves are pinnately compound (smaller leaflets arranged on each side of the leaf’s central stalk) and fernlike, with petioles that clasp to the stem at a node. In late May to August, small white flowers bloom at the tips of branched stems. These flowers are clustered in umbels that are 3 to 6 inches in diameter. After blooming, the plant produces abundant seeds that are flat with ridges and are easily spread by mowing and other equipment.
The most effective management techniques to control poison hemlock are mowing and herbicide application. Mowing has the potential to spread seeds, so it must be done properly. Make sure to mow before seeds form to prevent movement of the plant to new locations. Always be sure to clean equipment, clothing, and shoes after moving through an infestation.
Rosettes can be treated in the early spring and fall with herbicide applications. Spring treatments of rosettes should be timed well in advance of flowering, and follow-up treatments may be necessary for several years to exhaust the seedbank. If using herbicide treatments, check with your local University of Minnesota Extension educator, co-op, or certified landscape care expert for assistance and recommendations. There are several businesses throughout the state with certified herbicide applicators that can be hired to perform chemical applications.
Always be careful when working in and around poison hemlock as it is highly poisonous to humans and livestock. Do not ingest any part of the plant and wear proper clothing, including gloves, long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe boots if working in an infestation. Poison hemlock sap contains toxins that can be absorbed through skin. Symptoms of poison hemlock toxicity include: nervous trembling, salivation, pupil dilation, a rapid, weak pulse, and eventually coma or death. For suspected toxicity to people, seek medical care immediately.

Take a Kid Fishing Weekend is this Friday through Sunday
MN DNR
During Take a Kid Fishing Weekend Friday, June 7 to Sunday, June 9, Minnesota residents can fish without licenses if they take children 15 or younger fishing — and fishing is one way among many to enjoy Great Outdoors Month (June).
“Fishing is fun and it’s a great way to spend time outdoors together with kids,” said Benji Kohn, volunteer mentor program coordinator with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “Going fishing can be as simple as finding some rods and reels, finding or buying worms for bait, and heading to a nearby lake to give fishing a try.”
Youth 15 and younger do not require fishing licenses at any time of the year, though they must observe all fishing seasons and other regulations. Take a Kid Fishing Weekend allows adult Minnesotans to fish without a license as long as they take a child fishing with them. Minnesota residents also may generally fish in state parks without a fishing license if the body of water does not require a trout stamp.
Take a Kid Fishing Weekend is one among many other outdoor opportunities available to Minnesotans during Great Outdoors Month. During the month, Gov. Tim Walz and the Minnesota DNR are encouraging Minnesotans to get out in nature and enjoy the state’s outstanding outdoor opportunities, including fishing, riding all-terrain vehicles on state ATV trails, and visiting state parks and recreation areas to hike, bike, camp, swim, paddle or go birding. The proclamation of Great Outdoors Month cites the health and wellness benefits of spending time outdoors as one of the many reasons to encourage Minnesotans to get outdoors.
The Minnesota DNR’s take a kid fishing webpage (mndnr.gov/takeakidfishing) has a variety of online resources available for anyone interested in taking a kid fishing, including information and recorded webinars on how to fish, accessible piers and shore fishing locations, buying a fishing license, and what to do with live bait when done fishing.