What is the link between pesticide use, wildlife, water quality and our natural resources?
Wildlife most at risk includes amphibians, songbirds, waterfowl, eagles and other birds of prey since they rely on insects, worms and aquatic species for food. Chemical pesticides may leach into the groundwater and stormwater runoff through overuse and misuse. The introduction of these chemicals into the surface water ecosystems has a negative impact by degrading water quality. The greatest risk of toxicity appears to lie within two insecticides commonly found in urban stormwater: diazinon and chlorpyrifos. The use of diazinon is banned on golf courses and in some states but is still available in Minnesota for use on residential turf. Research completed in California also found that residential runoff may be much more toxic than previously thought.
