>> By saying "poison ivy" instead of the more familiar (to me) "poison
oak," I reckon you are not in California. <<

SE PA.  It's the groundcover of choice at State Parks. It grows like crazy
in my back yard too. When my old neighbor moved in years ago he said the
whole hillside was covered in it and he did not know what it was so he
removed all of it by hand.  He was out of commission for weeks.

Bryan