Drive by mosquito fogging dangerous?

[tfalls3]

We live in Fl and our county drives through every other night fogging for Mosquitos. They do come around 9pm and my girls are in their roost about 90ft from the street and our house in between. Should I be worried? Mosquitos are a huge problem here but my girls Love to eat them if they get in the roost.

I've been walking my dog and gotten fogged before , no odor and we were fine but I know birds are very sensitive.

 

[ChaoSS]

Fogging for mosquitoes? That seems like a really bad idea, for your own health.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Not controlling mosquitoes means you would bring back or increase the risk of malaria, yellow fever, encephalitis, West Nile Virus, and other mosquito-borne diseases for humans, increase the risk of fowl pox for chickens, and other diseases for your other pets or animals, not to mention allowing many outside activities in the evening in many areas without getting eaten alive.

Tfalls3, I suggest you contact whoever is spraying in your county government and talk to them. Find out what chemicals they are using and ask them what the risks are to you and your animals. Then do some independent research on the web to determine for yourself what the risks are. I don’t know what they could be spraying that's odorless, that’s a new one on me. I seriously doubt you, your dog, or your chickens are at any risk, but I don’t know what sprays they are using.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

FWIW - they "fog" every night of the county fair here - including the areas of all the livestock barns (poultry barn included) which are all open to the air. As suggested by Ridgerunner, I would contact your municipality and ask what specific chemicals are in use for their fogging program and go from there.

 

[cracked egg]

They have done this for years here to prevent west Nile. I have not noticed the fog effecting anything but the insects. According to the county its harmless- so was DDT at the time.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

They have done this for years here to prevent west Nile. I have not noticed the fog effecting anything but the insects. According to the county its harmless- so was DDT at the time.

So true......

 

[ChaoSS]

Countless harmless chemicals and drugs are later linked to cancer, neurological disorders, birth defects, reproductive harm, sterility, learning disorders, and other issues.


Surely there is a better way to control mosquitoes than regularly dosing the entire neighborhood, including the people in it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

According to the World Health Organization;


In 2012, malaria caused an estimated 627 000 deaths (with an uncertainty range of 473 000 to 789 000), mostly among African children.

As I said, find out what chemicals they are using and do some independent research, but I know where my priorities lie on this topic.

 

[ChaoSS]

Many more people die of cancer every year. My priorities are a clean environment. Malaria can be treated/cured.


Again, there are better ways to combat mosquitoes than fogging a neighborhood.

 

[Blooie]

I have the same problem here. West Nile virus is not at all unusual, and we (the town) sprays for mosquitos every other night and we have an aerial spraying program one day a month just before dawn. I am not worried, because several other folks in town have had chickens for years and have had no problems as a result of the spraying and fogging.

Since I'm on the town council, I suppose I should really find out what the guys are using. But we've never had anyone come to us and say there's been a problem with their animals or birds, so I guess I didn't even think about it. My yard is certified as a "National Wildlife Habitat" by the National Wildlife Federation because of the 4 varieties of hummingbirds I have here, and they are usually feeding heavily before going to bed, even during the mosquito trucks' trips through. You can stand in any intersection in town and see the end of town in all four directions, which should tell you how small this place is. We often joke that spraying on the far south end of town also fogs the far north end at the same time! So if what we're using doesn't affect those tiny little creatures, then I think it's probably not going to affect my chickens either.