Letter to the Editor

Wildsight is very disappointed with the recent Pesticide Management Plan put forward by the Golden Golf Club (GGC). The GGC plans to continue to attempt to control adult mosquitoes, arguably a futile endeavour considering the location, by spraying pesticides that have proven negative impacts on the environment. These pesticides admit, on their own labels, that they kill bees and other flying insects as well as being toxic to birds and fish.

Scientists have tolled the warning bell that bee populations are crashing worldwide. The Golden Golf course, through their use of these pesticides, will certainly kill bees. The benefit of the use of these pesticides is doubtful, while the potential risks are great and immeasurable.

The risks far outweigh the benefits. Not only are the treatments only marginally successful in controlling mosquitoes with influx from the surrounding areas a constant, but also their suspected and known toxicity and implications for human health and environmental damage are undeniable.

It is important that the public and golfers are aware that these toxic chemicals are being used regularly at the Golden Golf course.  Pregnant woman and children must necessarily have raised concerns.

Wildsight encourages the public, and golfers especially, to dress appropriately for the circumstances during the summer months. Let the Golden Golf Club know that you want them to stop using toxic chemicals, like Malathion, that kill non-selectively, potentially threaten ecosystems by killing bees and predatory insects that feed on mosquitoes, and can harm birds and fish.

Can the GGC rationalize the use of chemicals to control a  mosquito nuisance that has never been shown at this location to cause disease when this same pesticide has unknown effect on human health and will locally contribute to undermining bee populations, now threatened globally? A world without the main pollinator, bees, will be a very hungry world indeed.

Ellen Zimmerman

Wildsight/Golden

Article Share