Dog owners at hipster NYC park warned about prickly weeds that could hurt pups
Share this @internewscast.com

Dog owners in hipster Brooklyn are barking mad over prickly weeds overtaking a popular local park that they worry could harm their precious pooches.

The notorious invasive foxtail grass in the dog area at Bushwick’s Maria Hernandez Park could pose a threat to pets as its barbed seeds may scratch animals’ skin, ears, eyes, and even lungs, concerned owners complained.

“Last year a foxtail seed barb got lodged in our dog’s inner eyelid and scratched her cornea,” resident Jasmine Colahan told The Post.

Local resident Brendan Morrison, living near the park for three years, mentioned his awareness of the dangerous grass but pointed out, “There’s obviously many people moving into the neighborhood, and they likely don’t know about it.”

Morrison suggested, “There should be more awareness and perhaps a sign for owners. It’s up to us to form a group and address it ourselves. The park isn’t going to handle this; it’s our responsibility too.”

One park volunteer who runs the Maria Hernandez Park Dog Run Pack Instagram account said resident brought their concerns to the city but the grass was never fully removed.

“Since then, the foxtail grass has spread considerably throughout the park,” the volunteer told The Post.

But a spokesperson for NYC Parks maintained that the “commonly occurring weed” is already under control as far as the agency is concerned.

“We work to manage it whenever it appears in our parks through regular cutting and trimming,” the spokesperson said. The agency urges “New Yorkers to report issues with foxtail grass at any location via 311.”

Since Jan. 1, 2024, Parks has “corrected” 74 weed/grass complaints in Bushwick, according to the city’s 311 portal.

Foxtail grass seeds can also get lodged into nasal passages and be inhaled into a pet’s lungs, according to MedVet – and require surgery if a barb migrates into the chest or abdomen.

Multiple visits from a Post reporter to the park this spring found tall foxtail grass encroaching on the fence to the dog run – and no evidence of recent mowing.

The matter of foxtail grass is just the latest qualm locals have at the park, where uncontained rat poison was found sprinkled near the children’s playground and dog run in April.

“I don’t know why they have such a hard time trying to fix this,” Bushwick native and dog owner Kevin told The Post of the foxtail grass — pointing to the loose rat poison, as well as dirty bathrooms and a massive rain puddle taking up a swath of the dog run, as other growing concerns at the popular park.

“Put something there, make it out of manure even,” he said of the foxtail grass patch, pointing to fertilizer’s ability to crowd out weeds.

“It’s going to smell weird, but it’s definitely safer.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Dad finds 13-year-old son dead after 200-foot fall from bluff inside popular National Park site

Tragic National Park Accident: Father Discovers Son’s Fatal 200-Foot Fall

In a heart-wrenching incident in Arkansas over the weekend, a father discovered…
Suspect Keon King charged with murder in death of Philadelphia woman Kada Scott; new details revealed

Philadelphia Tragedy: Keon King Faces Murder Charges in Kada Scott’s Death – Latest Updates Unveiled

PHILADELPHIA — Keon King, the man initially arrested in connection with the…
Porta-potty peep scheme busted as man faces nearly 100 charges for filming students: police

Man Arrested for Allegedly Filming Students in Porta-Potties, Faces Extensive List of Charges

An Iowa resident is facing close to 100 charges after authorities discovered…
Father of Jacksonville rapper Ksoo to be sentenced in November for accessory in murder

Jacksonville Rapper Ksoo’s Father Faces November Sentencing: A Deep Dive into the Murder Accessory Case

Abdul Robinson Sr., 54, has reached a plea agreement to testify against…
Tropical Storm Melissa is now forecast to become a major hurricane as it trends toward a concerning track

Tropical Storm Melissa Predicted to Intensify into a Major Hurricane, Following a Worrisome Path

Tropical Storm Melissa is slowly making its way across the Caribbean Sea,…
Melodee Buzzard: Timeline of investigation into missing 9-year-old girl from Santa Barbara, California

Investigative Timeline: The Disappearance of 9-Year-Old Melodee Buzzard from Santa Barbara, California

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has stepped in to assist in the…
Strike averted: Musicians' union reaches tentative deal with Broadway league

Musicians’ Union and Broadway League Reach Tentative Agreement, Preventing Strike

NEW YORK — Broadway musicians have successfully brokered a preliminary deal with…
US chess grandmaster’s mom speaks out as questions remain over death, Russian rival faces probe

Mother of U.S. Chess Grandmaster Breaks Silence Amid Ongoing Investigation into Russian Rival Following Son’s Mysterious Death

In a heartfelt revelation, the mother of Daniel Naroditsky, a former grandmaster…
Massie Faces Trump-Backed Primary Challenge Kentucky Race

Massie vs. Trump: High-Stakes Showdown in Kentucky’s Pivotal Primary Race

Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie is preparing for a fierce primary battle…
Five Points businesses recovering after break-ins

Five Points Businesses Rebound Following Recent Break-Ins

Pattaya Thai is among several businesses in Five Points grappling with the…
Sonya Massey trial: Opening statements begin in trial of former Illinois Deputy Dean Grayson, accused of murder

High-Profile Illinois Trial Begins: Former Deputy Dean Grayson Faces Murder Charges

In Peoria, Illinois, the trial of Sean Grayson commenced on Wednesday with…
Miami Heat's Terry Rozier, Portland coach Chauncey Billups arrested in FBI probe

FBI Investigation Leads to Arrests of Miami Heat’s Terry Rozier and Portland Coach Chauncey Billups

Charges against Rozier and Billups are tied to two significant cases: one…