Growing up and living in beautiful sunny Sarasota, I am (as well as many others) profoundly connected to the lush Florida environment and the diverse wildlife that makes this place special. As someone passionate about protecting our natural surroundings, it deeply concerns me that Sarasota County conducts aerial/ground truck/drone mosquito spraying using toxic pesticides — a method that poses significant risks to the environment, wildlife, and residents. I am calling on my network and beyond to help change how Sarasota County Government handles mosquito control in our special gem of a city and throughout the county.

Sarasota County Mosquito Control sprays pesticides by plane, truck, and drone because real disease risks — West Nile, EEE, and Dengue are legitimate concerns here in Florida. But the current “spray and pray” approach comes with real costs: harm to pollinators, bats, and other wildlife, potential health impacts for residents, and a recurring bill that taxpayers cover with little say in the matter.

There are natural, cost-effective methods that address the same problem:

• Adding mosquito fish (Gambusia) to ponds and stormwater areas
• Supporting natural predators like bats and dragonflies
• Draining standing water at the source, county-wide

These approaches are proven, cheaper long-term, and don’t come with the same environmental tradeoffs. Redirecting even part of the spraying budget could mean more funding for roads, schools, or other priorities residents actually voted for.

If you’d like the county to explore these alternatives, please sign my petition and share this with others in Sarasota County.

Thank you for reading and for your support!