A noxious species of weed was found in Ravenswood and can be potentially harmful to humans and animals, including livestock.

The plant in question is the Black Henbane, which is commonly found in disturbed areas around Southern Alberta.

"Black Henbane is a relatively common weed. The risk that it poses - if you were to remove it from your property, you'd want to use gloves and make sure that there's not too much contact with your skin. As well, it is a toxic plant, so you'd want to make sure not to ingest parts of the plant," said Cheryl Lowe, natural areas technician with Airdrie Parks.

The Black Henbane is easily distinguishable with it's unusual appearance, including rows of flower pods and bright yellow foliage once it is in bloom.

"Often, these noxious weeds can appear quite beautiful and people might even be fertilizing them or tending them as they would a cultivated species. It does have a really beautiful blooming flower but it is an invasive species and it's quite toxic."

When removing the plant, Lowe recommends putting it into a garbage bag as opposed to composting it and strongly advises against burning the plant.