Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Toxic

Is Tansy Ragwort Poisonous to Alpacas?

Tansy Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) — a weed. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

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

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

Tansy Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris)
Tansy Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris). Photo: Julie Anne Workman, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Toxic
Scientific name
Jacobaea vulgaris
Family
Asteraceae
Plant type
Weed
Also known as
Ragwort, Stinking willie, Senecio jacobaea, Common Ragwort
Toxic parts
Whole plant; dried plant in hay is eaten readily and remains toxic
Toxic compound
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids

Why it matters

Damage accumulates in the liver over time; signs may appear months after exposure ended. Pull and remove plants before they set seed. A notifiable weed in many regions.

Signs of tansy ragwort poisoning in alpacas

  • Weight loss and poor condition weeks to months after exposure
  • Jaundice (yellow gums/eyes)
  • Photosensitization (sunburn-like skin lesions)
  • Neurological signs from liver failure: aimless walking, head pressing
  • Death from chronic liver failure

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 tansy ragwort

  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

Jacobaea vulgaris, synonym Senecio jacobaea, is a very common wild flower in the family Asteraceae that is native to northern Eurasia, usually in dry, open places, and has also been widely distributed as a weed elsewhere.From Wikipedia — “Jacobaea vulgaris”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 807,703 recorded observations of Jacobaea vulgaris Gaertn. worldwide, including 7,012 in the United States. It belongs to the Asteraceae family, together with Cocklebur, Common Groundsel, Rayless Goldenrod, White Snakeroot, Burdock. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is tansy ragwort poisonous to alpacas?
Yes. Yes — tansy ragwort is toxic to alpacas. Damage accumulates in the liver over time; signs may appear months after exposure ended. Pull and remove plants before they set seed. A notifiable weed in many regions.
What part of tansy ragwort is toxic to alpacas?
Whole plant; dried plant in hay is eaten readily and remains toxic.
What are the symptoms of tansy ragwort poisoning?
Weight loss and poor condition weeks to months after exposure, jaundice (yellow gums/eyes), photosensitization (sunburn-like skin lesions), neurological signs from liver failure: aimless walking, head pressing and death from chronic liver failure.
Is dried tansy ragwort safe?
No — the toxin in this plant remains active when dried, so contaminated hay and dried clippings are still dangerous.

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 Q15630491.