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Our
lawns and gardens are like other environments. Plants, insects
and other animals all interact and affect one another.
Altering a part of that system can have unintended effects
on other components of it. This is an important thing to
keep in mind when considering whether or not to apply pesticides
around the home. Pesticides are not only lethal to pests,
but to other wildlife as well. Here are three important
rules to consider before applying any pesticides:
1.
Make sure you actually have a pest problem. Learn
to identify pests and to determine at what stage they actually
become a problem. Many times people treat for pests that
are either not present, or not present in large enough numbers
to cause problems.
2.
Know your pesticides. Read the labels on your pesticides
CAREFULLY. Learn to identify what active ingredients are
contained in the product. Read about the potential effects
these pesticides can have on the other organisms in your
yard and community.
3.
Check for alternative treatments. Make it a priority
to use the least toxic method to control any pests or diseases.
Many simple, non-toxic solutions are as easy to employ and as
effective as chemical solutions. Contact your local garden
center and Cooperative Extension for advice.
Making
your garden or lawn more community friendly isn't difficult
and may actually save you time and money. Plus a little
bit of education and a few changes around your home can
have a lasting effect on migratory bird populations and
other wildlife.
To
learn more about the pesticides commonly used around the
home, refer to Audubon's pesticide summary.
Other
useful pesticide web sites:
EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs:
http://www.epa.gov/
pesticides/
The
National Pesticides Telecommunication Network:
http://ace.orst.edu/
info/nptn/index.html
Toxicology
and Environmental Health Information:
http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/
tehip.htm
Look
up all the registered pesticide products containing certain
active ingredients:
http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/
docs/epa/epachem.htm
The
American Bird Conservancy's Pesticide Pages:
http://www.abcbirds.org/
pesticideindex.htm
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