Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Toxic

Is Greasewood Poisonous to Alpacas?

Greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) — a shrub. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team
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Yes — greasewood is toxic to alpacas.

Keep it out of pastures, hay and reach of fences, and never feed trimmings.

Greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus)
Greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus). Photo: Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Toxic
Scientific name
Sarcobatus vermiculatus
Family
Sarcobataceae
Plant type
Shrub
Toxic parts
Leaves and twigs
Toxic compound
Soluble oxalates
Region
Western North America

Why it matters

Western desert shrub.

Signs of greasewood poisoning in alpacas

  • Weakness, trembling, low blood calcium
  • Depression and lying down
  • Kidney damage (reduced urination)
  • Death after large meals in hungry animals

Signs can appear within minutes (cyanide, cardiac toxins) or only after weeks of exposure (liver toxins). Many poisoned camelids are simply found dead, so prevention is everything.

What to do if your alpaca ate greasewood

  1. Move the herd away and remove any remaining plant material, clippings or fallen leaves.
  2. Call your veterinarian immediately, even if the alpaca looks normal. Say what was eaten, roughly how much and when.
  3. Bring a sample or clear photo of the plant to help identification.
  4. Do not give home remedies, oils or try to make the alpaca vomit unless your vet tells you to.
  5. Keep the animal quiet, in shade or shelter, with water available. Write down the time and every symptom you see.
  6. Check every other alpaca that had access, then remove the plant permanently (including roots).

Emergency: call your veterinarian immediately. If you cannot reach them, contact an animal poison control service (in the U.S., the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center or Pet Poison Helpline; fees may apply). Bring a sample or photo of the plant.

Where it grows

Main range of concern: Western North America. GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 7,707 recorded observations of Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Hook.) Torr. worldwide, including 6,602 in the United States. It belongs to the Sarcobataceae family. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is greasewood poisonous to alpacas?
Yes. Yes — greasewood is toxic to alpacas. Western desert shrub.
What part of greasewood is toxic to alpacas?
Leaves and twigs.
What are the symptoms of greasewood poisoning?
Weakness, trembling, low blood calcium, depression and lying down, kidney damage (reduced urination) and death after large meals in hungry animals.
Is dried greasewood safe?
Drying does not reliably make poisonous plants safe. Treat dried leaves and contaminated hay with the same caution.

Keeping pastures safe

  • Walk every paddock and fence line each season and remove toxic plants, including roots.
  • Never throw garden, hedge or lawn clippings over the fence.
  • Check pastures after storms for fallen branches (cherry, red maple).
  • Buy hay from known sources and inspect it for weeds.
  • Keep pastures well managed — hungry alpacas eat plants they would normally avoid.

Browse the full toxic plant checker, the printable list of poisonous plants and the list of safe plants.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.

Data: plant status compiled from veterinary toxicology references (see sources); taxonomy and occurrences from GBIF; identifiers from Wikidata Q17252862.