A foxtail plant contains tens of thousands of individual seeds bearing spikes that are clustered on a stalk, looking very

much like a shaft of wheat or hops. Each spike (about 1/2" to 1" long, by about the thickness of lead in a lead pencil)

can be dislodged from the cluster by anything walking by and brushing against it. Each spike has a very sharp point,

and the body (or shaft) contains micro-fine barbs.

Animal hair (and human socks) are magnets for the micro-fine barbs. Unfortunately for animals, the barbs prevent

reverse movement of the spike, so it can only go forward. (Even when they are in your socks, you can't pull them out.

You have to push them through and remove them by the point.)

Since it has a very sharp point, it becomes lodged into the animals skin, or ears or eyes, not to mention nose, but

mostly in the feet (between the folds of the pads).

Another peculiarl aspect of foxtails, it that the are very similar to cellulous. If and when they pierce the skin, they do not

dissolve or biologically break-down. In fact, because of the barbs, they continue to move, ever so slightly, in the same

direction until....

Anyway, well before that point they must be surgically removed! The other preventative approach is to daily check you

animal for foxtails and remove them immediately.

They can kill an animal.

Jim Follis