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ST. GEORGE — Foxtails are a "nightmare" this year after an especially wet winter. What do pet owners need to know as southern Utah enters the dry summer season?
Kris Neal, director and "chief bottle washer" at One More Chance C.A.T.S, noticed her dog's foot looked infected and upon closer inspection, she found a foxtail. But once she pulled it out with surgical tweezers, she realized she was dealing with a cluster of three.
"The field around my house is full of (foxtails)," Neal said. "The last few years, I have not had that many — they've been very manageable."
Higher-than-normal precipitation encouraged weed growth this spring. Many of southern Utah's common weeds produce seeds that will remain in the ground until conditions are favorable. Because of the severe drought, the area saw fewer plants, said Benjamin Scow, a professional practice extension assistant professor at the Washington County Utah State University Extension.
"This year, however, we are seeing a lot more weed pressure on the sides of roads, on our rangelands and open areas," he said.
