Field Notes -- May 1999, Page 5
Silent Spring:
Revisited?
Interconnections
in our backyard
By:
Mark Eberle, Fish and Wildlife Biologist
If you are like most suburbanites, you want your home surrounded by
a grass lawn. Not just any lawn, but a well-manicured, lush green
lawn free from weeds, insects, and other pests yet supporting suburban
wildlife; however, have you ever thought about the “price” of having such
a lawn? Not in dollars, but in impacts to our natural environment
resulting from the maintenance of this "green" lawn. In 1995 alone,
licensed applicators applied 374,991 lbs. of pesticides to New Jersey’s
lawns, with herbicides accounting for approximately two-thirds of all use
(see graph). The counties showing the greatest use of pesticides
were Morris (14.2%), Monmouth (13.4%), Bergen (11.4%), and Middlesex (10.1%).
These amounts do not include pesticide use by individual homeowners; therefore,
they are conservative measures of the pesticide volume potentially impacting
New Jersey's fish and wildlife resources. What are the interconnections
between this pesticide use and our wildlife? One documented example
occurred after improper insecticide use at a New Jersey condominium complex
and resulted in a large-scale fish kill at two local ponds. In another
case, the improper use of a common insecticide on an office complex lawn
resulted in the death of two immature mallard ducks.*
Many scientific
studies show detrimental effects to fish and wildlife from commonly used pesticides.
A 1988 Service study showed that recommended application rates of chlorpyrifos,
an insecticide commonly used in New Jersey, harmed nontarget species, including
birds, fish, and invertebrates.** A 1987 study by the New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation cited a case where 14 red wing blackbirds died
from poisoning associated with home lawn applications of isofenphos.***
With considerable scientific evidence demonstrating the detrimental
effect of lawn care products on our environment, why do people still use
them? Some homeowners want to increase property value, aesthetics,
or have a place to recreate, while others are unaware of the environmental
damage these products can cause. No matter what the reason, the best
way to promote a change in people's lawn-care habits is through education
and by using more sensitive alternatives. If you must use pesticides,
use them sparingly and carefully follow the directions for applying and
handling these chemicals. Some ways to reduce pesticide use on your
lawn include: keep your lawn small enough to allow manual weeding,
use a grass mixture appropriate to your soil and climate, or try alternatives
to a lawn. One alternative to a "green" lawn is a native wildflower
meadow. Other options include growing a vegetable or butterfly garden,
establishing a mini-orchard, or creating a wildlife-attracting pond.****
In 1962, Rachel Carson, a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service employee,
opened our eyes to the dangers of pesticides with her book Silent Spring
-- in light of our current "green" lawn syndrome, maybe it is time we revisit
this profound work.
Notes:
* Brown, C. 1998. Personal Communication.
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Pesticide Control
Program. Trenton, New Jersey.
** Odenkirchen, E.W., and R. Eisler. 1988. Chlorpyrifos
hazards to fish, wildlife, & invertebrates: a synoptic rev.
USFWS. Biol. Rpt 85 (1.13). 34 pp.
*** Stone, W.B., and P.B. Gradoni. 1987. Poisoning
of birds by cholinesterase inhibitor pesticides. NY State Dept. of
Environmental Protection. 15 pp.
****Tufts. C. 1988. The backyard naturalist. National
Wildlife Federation. 79 pp.