WindStar Wildlife Institute is a
national, non-profit, conservation
organization whose mission is to help
individuals and families establish or
improve the wildlife habitat on their
properties.
For more information or for the name
of a Master Wildlife Habitat
Naturalist in your area, please
contact:
WindStar Wildlife Institute
10072 Vista Ct. • Myersville, MD 21773
Phone: 301-293-3351
E-mail: wildlife@windstar.org
http://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 only
when 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 when
they 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 and
can 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 food
and 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 wildlife
valuable cover for nesting,
raising young, and escaping
from predators. Consider
leaving these areas alone.
Don't use herbicides or mow
unless 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.
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Read and follow the instructions on the pesticide label
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Incorporate Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices
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Never wash equipment or containers near ponds or
streams
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Use the pesticide least toxic to wildlife
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Avoid spraying over ponds or drainage ditches
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Do not use herbicides or insecticides on field borders
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Minimize drift by using low-pressure sprays and large
droplet nozzles
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Fully incorporate pesticide granules, especially spilled
granules
GUIDELINES ON REDUCING IMPACT ON WILDLIFE
