Toxic Caterpillar?? (1 Viewer)

[Londontel]

My wife and I were recently at Spurn Point in Yorkshire doing a spot of birding. We noticed that on the gorse bushes and all around were thousands of caterpillars (hairy ones). As we moved around the area we came into contact with a number of these little creatures.
We have subsequently come out in an itchy, spotty rash which is taking ages to go and driving us mad. We have have been given medication by the hospital and told that the caterpillars we came into contact with are poisonous. That's the reason the birds don't eat them and why there are so many of them! My questions are;

1. Can anyone shed any light on what species these are and if it is indeed true that they are toxic.

2. Has anyone else experienced this.

3. If so, how long does the symptoms last.

This is a genuine enquiery even though it may sound a bit far fetched. Any info would be most helpful.
Thanks

 

[Xenospiza]

No idea which species, but the hairs of caterpillars can cause itching. It will go away in a few days I guess.
I have never experienced any problems, although I live in an area where hairy caterpillars of the oak processionary moth are common. Apparently, other people are more sensitive (a few years ago, many cyclists of the Tour de France were badly affected): these caterpillars are the focus of fierce control measurements.

 

[birdieboy123]

I was at spurn last sunday and have been covered from neck to foot in a very itchy rash ever since which is going slowly.
The cause of the rash are Brown-Tailed Moth caterpillars
http://www.yorkshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk/news.htm#caterpillars

 

[Howard_Hopkinso]

http://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/services/environment/browntailmoth.htm

The above link contains some very interesting info regarding the brown tailed moth caterpillars.

Regards Howard.

 

[Steve Lister]

I stayed at Spurn Obs Tuesday to Friday last week and was fully aware of the Brown-tail caterpillars being nasty blighters. I saw thousands and their handiwork on the stripped Sea Buckthorn and brambles over much of the peninsula but I never touched even one, not knowingly anyway. Even so both arms, both legs and my neck are covered in small red pimply spots that itch like mad even now, two days after I left. And my arms and legs were always covered. I wondered if irritant hairs from the caterpillars are blowing on the wind, but then why no spots on my face?

And Spurn was almost dead birdwise, so all the suffering for little reward.

 

[Londontel]

I managed to see and photograph a Cuckoo which was a first for me. However, if someone had told me that the price I would have to pay for the priveledge was this insane rash which is still with me a week later, I think I would have passed up the opportunity. Thanks to all those who have given information on this subject, at least my nemesis now has a name!
Without being too pessemistic, I am hoping the spots will go before my next holiday in August!
People just don't understand that 'birding' is an extreme sport.