**“These Were All Over My Pant Leg During a Walk Today — What Are They?”
A Look at the Tiny Hitchhikers Hiding in Nature**
If you’ve ever walked through tall grass, woodland trails, or a meadow and found your pant legs suddenly covered in tiny clingy objects, you’re not alone. Every year, hikers and dog owners alike encounter mysterious little specks that stubbornly attach to fabric, shoelaces, socks, and even skin. The first reaction is usually alarm — Are they bugs? Seeds? Something dangerous?
In most cases, the answer is surprisingly harmless: they’re burrs, the seed pods of various wild plants designed to travel by latching onto anything that passes.
What Exactly Are Burrs?
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