I think there is some uncertainty about whether fully ripe nightshade
berries are poisonous to people (or birds). The leaves and unripe fruit are
poisonous, as is true of many members of the nightshade family. The
nightshade family includes tomatoes, potatoes, and tobacco, which have
mildly poisonous leaves (and some people chose to smoke the leaves of one of
them). I, however, have never been tempted to test the toxicity of
nightshade berries on myself.

Kelly Cassidy
Pullman, WA
mailto:lostriver at completebbs.com


----- Original Message -----
From: "Al Wagar" <alwagar at verizon.net>
To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2005 7:13 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] Pheasant eating nightshade berries


> In reviewing some video of a nearly-grown pheasant, taken about 10 days
> ago
> at the Montlake Fill, I noticed that it was eating nightshade berries.
> Various critters can eat, with impunity, some of the things we can't. But
> I'm still a bit amazed at this case.
>
> Al Wagar
> Shoreline
>
>
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