Introduction
Poisonous plants are common in Colorado’s pasture and range and generally are avoided by livestock. However, there are situations where livestock poisoning is more likely to occur.
- Lack of other forage to eat because of an overgrazed pasture or a dry year.
- Animals are new to the area (from another state where they are not trained to avoid certain plants).
- Animals are grazing in snow cover and the only plants sticking up from the snow are poisonous.
- Dose makes the poison (livestock usually need to eat a lot to be poisoned).
Poisonous plant resources:
Knight, A., Walter, R. (2001). A Guide to Plant Poisoning of Animals in North America. Teton New Media: Jackson, Wyoming. A comprehensive book of poisonous plants in Colorado.
Guide to Poisonous Plants website – search by plant name or clinical sign.