BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 3, 2021
On my short list of things to avoid in the Maine woods, poison ivy is underlined and bold. If touched, the oil that coats the plant’s leaves can cause an itchy rash that can last for several days. In serious cases, the rash can even cause scarring. Also on the list of things I avoid in the Maine wilderness are porcupines. Number three on my steer-clear-of list, and by far the most dangerous, is the deer tick. Lastly, biting flies such as mosquitoes and black flies have spoiled my hikes multiple times — but only because I wasn’t prepared. In the Maine outdoors, there are very few dangerous animals or plants. We don’t have any poisonous snakes. Our black bears and other large mammals usually flee from humans. We’ve got a few poisonous mushrooms, but you’ll be all set if you don’t eat them. All in all, the wilderness is a very safe place.