In 2019, as in previous years, area mosquito spray companies lavishly sprayed their pyrethoid chemicals known as Talstar P, Bifenthrin and Deltamethrin throughout the Interior of Alaska. These pesticides are a luxury pesticide used to kill mosquitos. Our mosquitos do not carry any diseases, they are simply a nuisance. These chemicals have been allowed into Alaska by the Dept. of Environmental Conservation  These pesticides are not used to protect agricultural crops. The companies that spray claim that the chemicals are safe and effective. in fact, they are not safe, and mosquitos have been building resistance to the sprays nationwide. Toxicity to every aspect of our food chain is evidenced on the MSDS of each chemical. They are highly toxic.

• In 2019 we saw the devastation of honeybee colonies right after areas close to hives were sprayed.
• We saw dead song and migratory birds.
• We noticed that there were no insects - beneficial or not - post spray.
• We had livestock and pets become sick as well as community members suffer effects listed in the MSDS.
• These chemicals are also deadly to all water borne organisms.

The regulations listed for pesticide sprayers in AK have not been fully followed.

• These chemicals are not to be sprayed during daylight hours - and we have 24 hours of daylight during the summer in our communities.
• Neighbors are to be warned before spray occurs so they can be out of the area when it occurs. They are not.
• The REI- Restricted Entry Interval for these chemicals is 12 hours - and people are told to wait 15 minutes before returning to a sprayed area.
• Sprays should not be occurring when wind speeds are over 8mph due to drift.
• Sprayers are to be fully certified to spray by the State and are to be wearing full protective gear when spraying. We see them wearing shorts and T-shirts.

These are not only luxury pesticides, but they are being used in ways that are not considerate of the hazards they cause. We don't need them and we don't want them being sprayed in our environment. So please stop hiring these companies to spray these poisons.