I wouldn't take any chances. We recently purchased an undeveloped wooded tract of land in IL and found poison ivy with proportions similar to your plants. If your area has not been disturbed I would not doubt that what you have are some very healthy poison ivy plants. It can grow into very large vines with aerial roots or as a "stand alone" plant that looks like a spindly shrub or a small vining creeper along the ground. Don't be too eager to tackle handling the vines in the winter when the foliage is gone...the sap is still present in the vines and will cause reactions in people with sensitivity to the plant. Any tool or implement that us used to cut the plant or may brush up against the plant needs to be thoroughly cleaned by someone who isn't sensitive to the plant, as the oils will remain on the tools as well. We have learned "the hard way" about the ease of transmission of the oils...even after time has passed.
Good luck with the landscaping work and remember to keep yourself and your daughter upwind during the removal process, especially if they are using any type of "shredder"! |
