The municipality of Chambord, in Lac-Saint-Jean, wants to remind residents to beware of toxic plants, after the wild parsnip has gained ground.

"It's not just dandelions growing everywhere, we've found a number of wild parsnips all over the place. There are some near the park and also all along the blueberry cycle route. They are near roads and railways,” confirmed the mayor of Chambord, Luc Chiasson.

This phytotoxic plant is harmful and causes a lot of concern. The mayor wants to remove them quickly, but it's not child's play. "We contacted the Ministry of the Environment to find out what action to take, we really have to remove them at the root to prevent it from happening again," added the mayor.

Wild parsnips are not the only poisonous plants in the Saguenay. Another type of phytotoxic plant is well established there: giant hogweed. “For several years, there has been. Clients come to see me. We see it every year. There was not that 10, 15 years ago,” said Mathieu Ouellette, owner of the Borealis nursery.

In case of contact with these plants, redness, blisters and burns may appear.

It is important to clean the area with soap and rinse thoroughly.