Before the Next Spray Truck Arrives…
Imagine sitting on your dock with your family, looking out over Great Pond, when you see a man in full protective gear using what looks like a leaf blower spraying a mist all around the neighboring property. This was our experience. Our first reaction was anger and concern for our children.
We tasted the spray, prompting us to rush our baby, young children and dog inside. After closing all the windows, a call to the property owner, who was not currently at their summer residence, provided apologies for not letting us know. The stated rationale for spraying was to protect their pets from ticks in the yard.
The concern about ticks and Lyme disease is understandable. Families want to protect themselves and their children This is not an argument that ticks should simply be ignored. Lyme disease is a serious concern, and reasonable precautions are important. However, tick management does not necessarily require spraying an entire residential property. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension recommends an integrated approach to tick management that can include personal protection, protection of pets, landscape management, reducing suitable tick habitat, and targeted approaches when more control measures are believed necessary. However, the company, Mosquito Squad, used in this case, applies a commercial pesticide, synthetic pyrethroid spray. The company’s website recommends that prior to application all outdoor pet and children’s toys should be brought in, and everyone stay inside until 30-60 minutes after product application. Without warning, we were not afforded the opportunity to protect our children and pets.
There are also broader questions about whether we should be using these products at all. Things that we once thought were benign we have come to learn have dire consequences for our environment. The commercial pesticide that is used, unlike the company’s name suggests, “mosquito” squad, is broadly toxic. It kills not just mosquitos, but beneficial insects — honey bees, dragonflies, fireflies to name a few. Of significant importance to our lake community is the impact of these pesticides on aquatic life. It is widely known that even low concentrations of synthetic pyrethroids entering the water are highly toxic to aquatic insects, crustaceans, and fish.
Furthermore, what happens on the land does not necessarily stay on the land and is therefore an issue deserving of special attention. The Belgrade Lakes are among Maine’s most treasured natural resources. The communities of Rome, Belgrade, and Smithfield have worked for generations to protect these lakes and the surrounding watershed. Residents contribute time, effort, and financial resources to conservation programs, because they understand the value of protecting the lakes.
Waterfront homeowners on the peninsula have a greater responsibility, as what we do on our property has the potential of affecting both Great Pond and Mill Stream. The uncertainty surrounding the impact of pesticides on the lake’s ecosystem itself underscores the importance of understanding exactly where pesticide products are being applied, how they may drift in windy conditions, and what safeguards are in place to prevent potential runoff into nearby water. Any substance applied near either waterway deserves careful consideration.
Before hiring a commercial pesticide company, homeowners should ask:
- What exact product or products are being applied?
- What are the potential effects on beneficial insects and pollinators?
- How far can the product drift in windy conditions?
- What precautions are being taken to protect children, pets, gardens, and neighboring properties?
- Is the entire property being treated, or can treatment be limited to areas where ticks are most likely?
- What nonchemical or lower-impact alternatives are available?
- What measures are being taken to protect Great Pond and nearby streams from drift and runoff?
We all want our families to be safe. But safety should include more than protecting ourselves from ticks. It should also include being a considerate neighbor and protecting the environment that sustains us. Our community has invested heavily in protecting the Belgrade Lakes. That commitment should influence the choices we make on our own property. The lakes are not simply scenery outside our windows seasonally. They are a shared resource and a shared responsibility. And it begins with asking some questions before the next spray truck arrives.
Note: A State Pesticide Inspector has taken samples from the spray area for analysis. Concerns may be addressed to Alex Peacock, Director, , www.thinkfirstspraylast.com
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