One highly non-recommended way to identify poison oak or poison ivy is to touch the suspect plant and see if you develop a rash later. But unless you are okay with the most extremely itchiest rash, 10 times worse than any mosquito bite, I don’t recommend that method. Below are two videos detailing much more rash-free methods of identifying poison ivy and oak from the experts.

Poison Ivy

httpv://youtu.be/0HQWYAWdBRQ

Poison Oak

httpv://youtu.be/GFnSPIkgr2M

Poison oak image from Franco Folini on the flickr Creative Commons Poison ivy image from Robert Benner (mullica) on the flickr Creative Commons