Leaves are alternate and are spirally arranged along the twig, although they appear to be in two rows. It is patchily distributed throughout the state and is most common in the northeast. In small quantities, yew may be harmless. Canada yew is heavily browsed by deer. But when large quantities are eaten, death may follow rapidly due to cardiac failure, with few preceding symptoms.
Poisoning often occurs when clippings are placed where they are accessible to animals.
Symptoms include gaseous distress, diarrhea, vomiting, tremors and convulsions, dilated pupils, respiratory difficulty, weakness, collapse, slowed heart rate, circulatory failure, coma, and death. The shrub occurs mostly in the southeastern portion of Ohio, where it grows in hillside woodlands and pastures. Poisonings occur most often in winter or early spring when other green forage is not available. Privet species are introduced semievergreen or evergreen shrubs commonly used as ornamental shrubs or hedges. They are characterized by small opposite leaves, white flowers, and hard black berrylike fruits that persist through winter.