Despite the red nose, BHWP naturalist Dave Klaus is serious about helping you understand how to not worry about poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) while exploring the trails. The best way avoid a reaction is to avoid the plant and the best way to do that is to know how to identify it. Poison ivy is a very beneficial native plant for wildlife including mammals, birds, reptiles and insects throughout the year. In fact humans and a few other primates are the only species to be affected by the plan