Toronto forestry is warning the public about a potentially dangerous invasive flower and Toronto residents are afraid their dogs might get poisoned.
“Siberian Squill is a common invasive species in gardens that can easily spread into natural areas and forests,” the city said in the post.
“If a dog consumes a large amount of Siberian squill bulbs or foliage they can experience symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach discomfort. It’s important to consider that even non-toxic plants can cause mild gastrointestinal upset if ingested in large quantities,” a city spokesperson told Now Toronto.
Online, Torontonians are worried about their dogs who can’t help but roll around on the grass as the weather gets warmer.
“Our rotty has been barfing at least a couple times/week and sure enough we had 18 of these in our backyard! The similar but safe violet points upward, whereas the poisonous Siberian Squill flower points downwards,” one person said on a neighbourhood Facebook group.
“These are literally all over the place.I’ve not seen them before,here at Dufferin Grove Park is filled with them, my neighbours lawns are filled with them. I don’t recall seeing so many of these last year,” another concerned Torontonian said.
Another Facebook user mentioned Park Road and Rosedale Valley Road are full of the little blue flowers.
“Thankfully, any attempt to eradicate them will be unsuccessful and there will still be smiles on millions of faces because these lovely blue flowers let us all know that Winter is over,” they commented.
The city says there are specific actions residents can take to protect their dogs from eating squill, such as watching their pets closely while they’re outdoors and becoming familiar with how to identify toxic plants.
“Removing (or mowing) the flowers prior to seed pod development can reduce the spread. Digging out the bulbs can also help thin the population,” the spokesperson said.
Toronto residents can refer to this list of the top 10 prohibited plants and how to best manage them if they are on your property.
