This species is considered a watch list species.  

Toxicity Concerns: 

• Plant may cause skin irritation. Use caution and wear gloves when handling. 

Treatment Concerns: 

• Wild chervil is a prolific seeder; treatment should happen before plants flower to avoid the mature plants setting seed. 
• Following treatments, clean all clothing, boots, and equipment before leaving treatment site to ensure no seeds are transported. 
• Monitor for re-sprouts, missed plants, and new seed bank growth and do follow up treatments as necessary. 
• Wild chervil seeds can only persist in the soil for a few years before germinating or dying.  
• Wild chervil can even be found in wildflower seed mixes, so take caution, and purchase mix from reliable sources that identify contents.  

General Guidance:  

• Most methodologies alone will not suffice and should be part of an integrated pest management plan.  
• Which methods you choose also depend on the purpose of control: eradication (removal of all plants, plant parts, and seed bank), or containment (reducing seed production, reducing spread, reducing growth, removing individual plants near site of concern).  
• All action promotes disturbance - mechanical, chemical, and even just doing nothing. Our work is in figuring out how to minimize disturbance and maximize positive benefits. 
• The intent of mechanical or chemical treatment is to kill target plants. 
• Management options listed below are representative of research by institutions like The Nature Conservancy, Washington State University, UC Davis, Invasive Species Councils, and Noxious Weed Control Boards.    
• Here are additional guidance documents on best management practices for wild chervil: 
• Invasive Species Council of Metro Vancouver BMPs for Wild Chervil 
• Invasive Species Council of British Columbia Factsheet for Wild Chervil 
• King County Noxious Weed Control Program BMPs for Wild Chervil 
• Washington State University Extension Information on Wild Chervil 
• Jefferson County Noxious Weed Control Board BMPs for Wild Chervil 
• UC Davis Weed Control in Natural Areas in the Western United States 

Summary of Mechanical Treatment Options 

• Mechanical treatment can sometimes cause greater disturbance than if the site was left alone or if another treatment option was utilized. 
• If digging or tilling, remember that soil disturbance can encourage growth from seed bank.   
• Root fragments left in the ground can resprout and pulled or dug plants left on soil can continue to grow, so it is important to remove the plants thoroughly, and contain the removed material.  

Summary of Chemical Treatment Options

• Chemical treatment has limited effectiveness at controlling wild chervil because the species is resistant to many herbicides. If other options for control are exhausted, chemicals may be used to try to achieve management goals. A thorough review of all available, current best management practices is recommended to find the best herbicide to use on a case by case basis. 
• Be careful not to damage or kill nearby desirable plants when conducting management work.  
• Always read and follow pesticide label directions. Application of pesticides may require a certification from the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. The Agency website provides information on what applicator certification is needed.
• If a treatment for a specific species isn’t listed on a given product, don’t use it. 
• Product labels may require you to check Endangered Species Protection Bulletins. Learn more about protection bulletins here.  
• Understand the risk of, and how to avoid, drift.  
• The timing of some chemical treatments may overlap with when certain plants are flowering, and, in order to protect pollinators, herbicides should not be applied when plants are flowering. To mitigate the risk, consider utilizing an integrated pest management plan, such as cutting the plants to set back flowering time, and then applying pesticides in the lowest effective volume. 
• Chemical treatments pose a risk to plants, animals, and humans, but can be used in ways that greatly reduce this risk, and provide a solution to otherwise hopeless scenarios. 
• For questions regarding the appropriate chemical to use for a particular situation, or general information on pesticide safety, ingredients, and more, contact the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets’ Pesticide Program.  
• For questions about certification and continuing education credit opportunities, contact the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets’ Pesticide Program.  
• For questions about additional training opportunities, contact the UVM Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program.  
• Special permits are required to apply herbicides in a wetland. Contact Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation’s Wetlands Section for more information.  
• Herbicides cannot be applied within 200 feet of a Public Water Source Protection Area unless the Water Supply Division is notified. Call 1-800-823-6500 for more information. Similar requirements may be in place for proximity to private water sources.  
• Forests that are certified organic or adjacent to organically certified agricultural lands may carry restrictions regarding chemical application. Check with the Northeast Organic Farming Agency of Vermont for more information.  
• The National Pesticide Information Center provides objective, science-based information about pesticides. Check out their website for more information or call 1-800-858-7378. 

Biocontrol 

There are currently no known biocontrol agents for wild chervil.