Community Corner

Tick Spray Debate: Save the Ticks? No. Save the Wildlife? Yes.

Insecticides harmful and not effective, says Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy.

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy is pressing county leaders to reject proposals for insecticides in parks. The use of Talstar has been suggested as a way to neutralize ticks to prevent Lyme Disease. 

The county's Lyme Disease Commission suggests spending $41,500 in county funding, mostly on research and education, along with $3,000 to spray insecticide in the areas of five county parks where ticks may interact with people, according to The Washington Post.

The Board of Supervisors may address the Lyme commission’s recommendations at a meeting Wednesday, according to the Post.

What do you think of insecticide use? Tell us in the comments section below!

In the paper "Rebalancing Loudoun County's Approach to Lyme Disease Mitigation," the Wildlife Conservatory suggests the spraying would have little impact on reducing tick bites, but would be harmful to people, pets and wildlife.

The detailed, 34-page report from the conservatory goes far beyond "don't spray." There are suggestions on tick-safe zones and other alternative ways to avoid the dangerous insects.


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