The active ingredients found in barrier treatments are formulated to act on insects. They pose a low risk to birds, but it’s still a good idea to keep the product away from birdbaths and feeders.
If you keep feeders going or look forward to the loons and songbirds around the lake, you might wonder: is it really OK to treat for mosquitoes? It’s a good question.
The products target insect biology and break down over the treatment cycle. Birds are much larger and their physiology is very different from the insects the treatment is meant for. The label rates for residential mosquito and tick control are set with non-target wildlife in mind. Once the treatment dries on the foliage, the residue is bound to the leaf surfaces where insects rest, not floating around the yard.
Having said that, birds should still not come into direct contact with the product before it dries. Technicians are trained to steer clear of feeders and birdbaths, as well as the ground under them. That’s why letting the treatment dry matters. Technicians also apply the appropriate amount of product so that when birds eat treated insects, they only take in a very small dose.
If you’re looking to reduce risks to birds on your property, there are a couple of things you can do. Bring in or cover feeders and birdbaths during the visit and until the treatment has dried, then put them back out. Point out where they are so the technician routes around them. If you want to be thorough, empty and refill a birdbath afterward so it starts fresh.
If you’re wanting to minimize the use of synthetic treatment altogether, that’s doable. Plant-based essential-oil treatments are also an option. They work just as well, but have to be reapplied a bit more often.
If you're tired of choosing between a usable yard and the birds you enjoy watching, Mosquito Squad of North Central Minnesota can help. Mosquito Squad can apply treatment with careful placement around feeders and water, offers a natural option, and helps protect your yard with up to 90% reduction in mosquito activity on a 21-day cycle.
