Be careful while you’re out in nature because what my daughter was about to touch was quite dangerous.
It was a peaceful afternoon, perfect for a picnic with the family. The youngsters laughed and played happily as the sun beamed through the trees. We set our blanket down in a small forest, away from the main trail.
Everything appeared fine until our toddler got a little lost since she was so intrigued in a tree that didn’t look normal.
“Come see, Mom and Dad!” The tree has stripes on it, which makes it seem great!
She was getting closer, curious, and extending out her hand. But something didn’t feel right. My hubby jumped up right away, and his instincts took control.
In a single second, he jumped at her. Her hand was barely a few inches away from something that could have killed her.
We got chills when we learned out what happened next. It wasn’t a tree with “stripes.” A group of hairy caterpillars were traveling together.
These caterpillars were not like the others. They were the larvae of the pine processionary moth, which has poisonous hairs that can cause major allergic reactions, skin inflammation, and even trouble breathing. A single touch can kill kids and pets.
I couldn’t move. I thought about what would have happened if she had touched them: the screaming, the rush to the hospital, and the sensation of being helpless. My husband’s hand was still firmly holding her wrist, and his knuckles were white.
He whispered, “Sweetheart, don’t ever touch bugs like that.” His voice shook even though he was trying to seem calm.
We slowly moved away. I was also terrified of the wind since I knew their poisonous hairs may travel through it. A couple who were passing by observed how worried we looked and stopped. She screamed and added that previous summer she had witnessed a dog almost die after sniffing one when we pointed at the tree.
When she spoke such things, it felt like I got hit. Our dog Max was resting on the blanket and wagging his tail. If our daughter hadn’t seen them first, Max could have been in danger.
We decided to pack up right away. But I kept glancing at the trees as we walked back to the car. When I learned 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.
I couldn’t stop thinking about how close we had come to disaster when we got home. I spent the night looking up information and found out that these caterpillars are spreading more and more each year as the weather becomes warmer. These caterpillars hurt animals and people who have brushed against them while gardening.
That night, I showed my daughter pictures of plants and bugs that could hurt her. I told her in simple terms why she should be careful when she’s interested in nature. She nodded 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 respectful of it. Because beautiful things in nature can frequently hide deadly secrets.
And every time we go for a stroll in the woods, I think about that one peaceful afternoon and how quickly it could have turned into a disaster.
How to tell whether you have a Pine Processionary Caterpillar: Nature Safety Warning:
The Pine Processionary You can mostly find caterpillars in pine forests, but you can also find them on cedar trees from time to time.
Build huge, fluffy white nests in trees.
When you migrate, move in long lines from head to tail.
Possible dangers:
It contains hairs on it that are dangerous and 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.
Here’s what to do if you see them:
Don’t let youngsters or dogs near you.
Don’t touch, crush, or sweep them; this makes their hair spread out.
If you see anything, please let your local pest control or forestry agency know.
Nature is beautiful, but sometimes beauty hides a terrifying truth. Be careful and keep your loved ones secure.
