When you’re out in nature, keep your eyes open because what my daughter was about to touch was quite dangerous.
It was a peaceful afternoon, perfect for a family picnic. The youngsters laughed and played happily as the sun beamed through the trees. We had spread out our blanket in a little forest, away from the main trail.
Everything was going well until our child got a little lost since she was so intrigued in a tree that seemed strange.
“Mom, Dad, look!” The tree has stripes on it, and it looks great!
She was getting closer, curious, and reaching out with her hand. But something wasn’t quite right. My partner jumped up right away, and his instincts took control.
In a flash, he jumped at her. She was barely a few inches away from something that may have killed her.
What we learned soon after made us tremble. It wasn’t a “striped” tree. It was a group of hairy caterpillars that were moving around.
These caterpillars were different from most. They were the larvae of the pine processionary moth, which has poisonous hairs that may make people very sick, irritate their skin, and even make it hard for them to breathe. One touch can kill kids and dogs.
I was stuck. I thought about what might have happened if she had touched them: the screaming, the frantic rush to the hospital, and the sensation of being powerless. My husband’s hand was still tightly holding her wrist, and his knuckles were white.
“Sweetheart, don’t ever touch bugs like that,” he said, his voice quivering even though he was trying to seem calm.
We slowly moved back. I was also afraid of the wind since I knew their poisonous hairs may fly through the air. A couple passing by observed how worried we looked and stopped. The woman gasped and claimed that last summer she had witnessed a dog almost die after sniffing one when we pointed at the tree.
When she stated those things, it felt like a hit. Max, our dog, was resting on the blanket and wagging his tail. If our daughter hadn’t seen them first, Max could have been in trouble .
We decided to pack up right away. But I kept glancing at the trees as we walked back to the car. After I knew what to look for, I started to notice them: clusters of these caterpillars hidden in the bark, and some even starting to march over the forest floor from head to tail.
When we went home, I couldn’t stop thinking about how close we had been to disaster. I spent the evening seeking up information and learned that these caterpillars are spreading more each year since the temperature is growing warmer. These caterpillars hurt animals and have also hurt people who have brushed across them while gardening.
I showed my daughter pictures of plants and bugs that could hurt her that night. I told her in simple terms why she should be careful when she is intrigued about nature. She nodded seriously and stated she would always ask before touching something she didn’t know.
I don’t want to scare her away from nature, but I do want her to be careful around it. Because beautiful things in nature can sometimes hide deadly secrets.
And every time we go on a walk in the woods, I remember that one peaceful afternoon and how quickly things could have gone wrong.
How to tell the Pine Processionary Caterpillar apart: Nature Safety Warning:
The Pine Processionary Caterpillars mostly live in pine trees, although they can also be seen in cedar trees from time to time.
In trees, make huge, delicate white nests.
When you move, go in long lines from head to tail.
Risks:
It has venomous hairs on it that can make your skin break out, your eyes hurt, and make it hard to breathe.
Can kill pets, especially dogs that lick or sniff them.
Hairs can get into the air and cause reactions even if you don’t touch them.
If you see them, do this:
Don’t go too close to kids or pets.
Don’t touch, crush, or sweep them; this will make their hair spread out.
If you see something, please let your local pest control or forestry agency know.
Nature is beautiful, but sometimes beauty hides a terrifying truth. Be on the lookout and keep your loved ones secure.