USDA researchers observed death camas consumption and intoxication among sheep in different hunger-treatment groups.
Four years at three sites
A USDA Agricultural Research Service paper published on 16 September 2026 reports sheep grazing experiments at three locations over four years. Researchers compared hunger treatments and death camas growth stages. Alkaloid concentrations were greater during the plant's vegetative stage than during flowering.
Consumption and illness
Bite counts and fecal DNA analysis did not support the hypothesis that hungry animals ate more death camas than partly satiated animals. Sheep in both groups showed signs of intoxication. The accompanying USDA pasture photograph was taken separately and does not show the trial flock.