How to ManagePesticides to Minimize

Harm to Wildlife

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Unfortunately, if you use

pesticides, wildlife can

become sick and die. A recent

study in North Carolinashowed that more than 30

percent of the quail tested

were made sick by one aerial

application of insecticide.

Insecticides can make thebirds neglect their young,

abandon their nests and

become more susceptible to

predators or disease.

An indirect effect is thatherbicides or insecticides can

reduce the food and cover

that wildlife needs to survive.

Usually game bird populations

decrease when pesticides are

Pheasant and quail populations continue todrop in many regions of the U.S. Naturally, onemajor factor is the loss of wildlife habitat due

to commercial and residential development.

Another reason suggested by wildlife biologistsis the use of pesticides on agricultural land.

used extensively. They lower

the survival rate of chicks,

destroy cover plus reduce

insect and plant foods.

According to wildlifespecialists, reducing pesticide

use is one of the best ways to

protect fish and wildlife

resources. Using sound

cultural practices reduces

pest problems and, therefore,results in lower pesticide use.

Cultural practices that

decrease the need for

pesticides include rotating

crops, selecting resistantvarieties whenever possible,

planting and harvesting at the

proper time, and using

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WindStar Wildlife Institute is anational, non-profit, conservation

organization whose mission is to helpindividuals and families establish orimprove the wildlife habitat on their

properties.

For more information or for the nameof a Master Wildlife Habitat

Naturalist in your area, pleasecontact:

WindStar Wildlife Institute

E-mail: wildlife@windstar.orghttp://www.windstar.org

integrated pest management

(IPM) techniques.

IPM is a farming approach

that employs alternative

methods of pest control,

rather than relying solely on

agricultural chemicals. With

IPM, pesticides are used onlywhen the cost of applying a

pesticide is outweighed by the

cost of pest damage to the

crop. The "threshold" must be

reached before chemicals are

justified.

Insecticides

Many organophosphate and

carbamate insecticides are

highly toxic to wildlife whenthey inhale the vapor or when

insecticides make contact with

their skin or eyes.

In Virginia, researchers tested

quail that had been killed by

hunters and discovered that

60 percent had insecticides

in their bodies.

Exposure to the

insecticides can disrupt an

animal's nervous system. If

exposure is great enough,

sickness and death occur.The nervous system may not

return to normal for four

weeks following exposure and

the effects can be additive,

if exposed more than once.

Nematicides

and Fungicides

Many fumigants, granules,

and liquid formulations are

highly toxic to wildlife andcan cause death, while

others, especially fumigants,

are safer.

Granules should be fully

incorporated into the soil as

quickly as possible after

application.

Herbicides

Many herbicides are only

slightly toxic to wildlife, but

they can damage their

habitats. Wildlife need foodand cover to survive. When

wildlife habitats are reduced

on a farm, there is a

tremendous effect on the

wildlife populations there.

Populations of wildlife

decrease when herbicides or

mowing are used to maintain

"clean" fencerows, ditch

banks and field borders. These

strip areas provide wildlifevaluable cover for nesting,

raising young, and escaping

from predators. Consider

leaving these areas alone.

Don't use herbicides or mowunless absolutely necessary

to control noxious weeds.

And, if you mow, only mow

during early spring and on one

side of a ditch bank or

fencerow each year.s Read and follow the instructions on the pesticide label

s Incorporate Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices

s Never wash equipment or containers near ponds or

streams

s Use the pesticide least toxic to wildlife

s Avoid spraying over ponds or drainage ditches

s Do not use herbicides or insecticides on field borders

s Minimize drift by using low-pressure sprays and largedroplet nozzles

s Fully incorporate pesticide granules, especially spilledgranules

GUIDELINES ON REDUCING IMPACT ON WILDLIFE