Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Deadly

Is Pacific Yew Poisonous to Alpacas?

Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia) — a tree. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team
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Yes — Pacific yew is highly poisonous. Small amounts can kill.

Keep alpacas completely away from this plant, including clippings and fallen leaves.

Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia)
Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia). Photo: Jason Hollinger, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Deadly
Scientific name
Taxus brevifolia
Family
Taxaceae
Plant type
Tree
Also known as
Western Yew, western yew
Toxic parts
Needles, bark and seeds
Toxic compound
Taxine alkaloids
Region
Pacific Northwest

Why it matters

Native understory tree of the Pacific Northwest. Treat exactly like ornamental yews.

Signs of Pacific yew poisoning in alpacas

  • Sudden death (often the first sign)
  • Slow, irregular or very fast heartbeat
  • Weakness, trembling, collapse
  • Diarrhea and colic
  • Cold extremities

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 Pacific yew

  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.

About the plant

Taxus brevifolia, the Pacific yew or western yew, is a species of conifer in the yew family, Taxaceae, native to the Pacific Northwest of North America. It is a small tree that thrives on moisture and grows in the form of a shrub.From Wikipedia — “Taxus brevifolia”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

Main range of concern: Pacific Northwest. GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 10,645 recorded observations of Taxus brevifolia Nutt. worldwide, including 6,383 in the United States. It belongs to the Taxaceae family, together with Canada Yew, English Yew, Japanese Yew. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is Pacific yew poisonous to alpacas?
Yes. Yes — Pacific yew is highly poisonous. Small amounts can kill. Native understory tree of the Pacific Northwest. Treat exactly like ornamental yews.
What part of Pacific yew is toxic to alpacas?
Needles, bark and seeds.
What are the symptoms of Pacific yew poisoning?
Sudden death (often the first sign), slow, irregular or very fast heartbeat, weakness, trembling, collapse, diarrhea and colic and cold extremities.
Is dried Pacific yew 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 Q2065540.