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Tools For Change

Alternatives To Spraying - Protecting yourself without pesticides
Expert Position Statements and Resources
Factsheets
Flyers, Sample Petitions and Opt-out forms
How to Organize In Your Community
Letters to the Editor and Policy Makers
Linking To Other Organizations (State Pages)
Media Tips
Model Policies & Practices
Mosquito Abatement Districts
Platforms and Position Statements Against Spraying
Public Service Announcements for your radio station
Reports
Studies that help build your case
WNv/Mosquito ListServe
Weblinks and Links to Links

Some of the resources below require an Adobe PDF format. To view, you will need the free Acrobat Reader.

• Alternatives To Spraying - Protecting yourself without pesticides
  • AVOID BITING MOSQUITOES
    • Wear protective clothing if going outside when mosquitoes are most active; usually in the early morning and evening. Wear long sleeves and pants in light colors as they are less attractive to mosquitoes. In highly infested areas, use a hat and tuck pants into socks. Ensure that window and door screening is properly maintained.
    • Use botanical skin repellent alternatives to DEET according to directions when outdoors. Try products containing geraniol (MosquitoGuard or Bite Stop), citronella (Natrapel), a combination of soybean and coconut oils (Bite Blocker), herbal extracts (Beat It Bug Buster), lemon and oil of eucalyptus (Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent), Avon's Skin-so-Soft, or other all essential oils (All Terrain) and reapply often. These are effective mosquito repellents that are safer than DEET. Always wash off repellents with soap and water once indoors. Pregnant women should consult a doctor before using essential oils. Repellents containing geraniol, citronella, soybean or eucalyptus oils get the highest ratings while the Avon products tend to get the lowest. Few published studies compare the efficacy of the range of non-chemical alternatives to DEET. For comparative efficacy reviews of various repellents see Plant-Based Mosquito Repellents: Making A Careful Choice by Caroline Cox (2005), or the New England Journal of Medicine's review [pdf] (2002).
      
  • BACKYARD SOLUTIONS
  • Set up large fans for home barbeques or other outdoor gatherings.
  • Use citronella candles or yellow outdoor light bulbs to repel mosquitoes.
  • Some botanicals such as garlic or pepper are used as barriers around property.
  • Encourage natural predators - stock closed, ornamental ponds with mosquito-eating fish (Gambusia holbrooki). Do not allow ornamental ponds to enter waterways, G. holbrooki are not native to all parts of the U.S. Whenever possible, nurture natural mosquito predators such as Bats, birds, dragonflies, beetles, frogs and snails (pesticide use adversely effects predators).
  • Carbon dioxide mosquito traps and attractants (see comparisons of products)
  • Fill holes or depressions in trees with sand or mortar, or drain after each rain.
  • Microbial Insecticides (Bti - Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) (Cinnamon Oil) to kill larvae.
  • Botanical Yard Repellents (Scented Geranium, citrusy or lemon-scented plants such as Lemon Grass, and herbs like Oregano, Catnip, or sweet and holy basil [see Dave's Garden plant database], Garlic barriers, Dr. T's Nature Products);
    (Any mention of product names is for informational purposes and does not constitute an endorsement.)
    
    
• Expert Position Statements and Resources
  • An Open Letter By Concerned Physicians and Scientists -(Signatures)
  • Ineffectiveness of Pesticides at Controlling Mosquito Populations (Don Fitz)
  • Recommendations for Mosquito Control in Tennessee (Kristy Gottfried)
  • Making Choices, Making By-Laws (Deborah Elaine Barrie)
  • Doctors and other medical professionals say no to spraying (by residents of Stamford, CT)
  • Questions and Answers about Scourge (by Dr. Samuel Epstein)
    
    
• Factsheets
  • 5 Steps To Stop The Spraying (Beyond Pesticides)
  • The Truth About Mosquitoes, Pesticides & West Nile virus (Rev. 9/04) (Beyond Pesticides)
  • What is West Nile virus: Pesticides, Biology, and Prevention (Beyond Pesticides)
  • West Nile Virus and Your Community (Safer Pest Control Project, IL)
  • West Nile Virus Wetlands should be protected, not drained. (National Wildlife Federation)
  • WNV Poster (Cornell University)
  • Facts and Figures: Children and Pesticides (Beyond Pesticides)
  • Pesticides: DEET; Synthetic Pyrethroids; Malathion; Chlorpyrifos; Bt; others. See Bti Report
    
    
• Flyers, Sample Petitions and Opt-out forms
  • Flyers Used to Rally Support in Connecticut (S. Gilbertie), Michigan (E. Tune)
  • Flyer distributed along with exemption forms - on orange paper to indicate "hazard." (Michigan)
  • Exemption from Spray: opt-out form for residents who do not want property sprayed. Sent to County Board of Commissioners with copies sent to local newspaper editors and others.
  • Neighborhood Exemption Form: opt-out form for neighborhoods to sign-up for no-spray areas. Distributed at local health food stores. Requests a total shut-off of all pesticides.
  • Petition 1: Say No to Pesticides in County including mosquitoes
  • Petition 2: Request for a Hearing on Pesticide Use
    

• How to Organize in Your Community
  • 10 Steps to Grassroots Organizing (Sal Gilbertie)
  • The WNV Organizing Manual or The WNV Toolkit by Beyond Pesticides. The WNv Manual is a 110 page book that gives a comprehensive look at mosquito control, WNv and alternatives; chemical toxicities, sample labels; how-to's on organizing and approaching decision makers and media; and advice on pesticide poisoning. $15 donation requested. The Toolkit is a smaller version. $5 donation.
  • Preparing for a Campaign: a framework for winning (Mary O’Brien)
  • Calling All Activists: How to start and run a local beyond pesticides organization
  • Free Listserves: Start a listserve with fellow community members through Yahoo or Topica.
  • Free Conference Call Setup: Link activists together or with experts with a call.
  • Free Petition: Start an online petition to bring before local decision makers. See AZ example.
    
    
• Letters to the Editor
  • Citizen Samples
  • Beyond Pesticides Letters to the Editor
    
• Letters to Policy Makers
  • Citizen Samples
  • Beyond Pesticides Letters to policymakers
    
    
• Media Tips
  
  
• Model Policies & Practices
  • Lyndhurst, Ohio ordinance passed in July 2003 is an inspiration for all who seek to prevent adulticiding in their communities. Pop. 15,279
  • Shaker Heights, OH WNV Response Plan can be considered the floodgate that allowed Lyndhurst to succeed. This Plan grew out of intense community involvement and continues today. Pop. 31,000
  • Washington, D.C. WNV Response Plan cites both lack of efficacy and asthma (p.13) among reasons for its no-spray policy. D.C. is a great model for those cities or counties that claim they don't have the funds to do proper prevention. Pop. 565,400
  • Lane County, OR WNV Response Plan, aided by NCAP, models how to make change sustainable by getting local policy makers to put their tiered plans in writing. Pop. 301,000
  • Marblehead, MA WNV Response Plan requires a town hall meeting before any adulticides are used (and only if there's been a locally-acquired human death). Pop. 20,294
  • Nashville, TN Mosquito Control Program aided by ally No Spray Nashville, the group demonstrated that WNV transmission to humans was exceedingly rare in Nashville, and citing the lack of efficacy of adulticiding over least toxic options, the Health Department agreed to raise the threshold for spraying to a level that is unlikely to result in mass neighborhood spraying again. Pop. 592,446
  • Fort Worth, TX Department of Health's explanation for why Fort Worth doesn't spray.
  • British Columbia WNV Article with contributions from BC's WNV Committee, gives a good overview of putting mosquito control and the WNV in perspective and overall management techniques.
  • Larval Control Plans That Work
    • Boulder, Colorado 2003 WNV Report explains the Boulder city's 2003 progressive approach to WNV which resulted in less WNV cases per density of surrounding areas. The report also offers insightful conclusions about the reasons for the city's successful urban no-spray program.
    • Washington, D.C. Department of Health. Preliminary Review of The Efficacy of Larvicide, in the Absence of Adulticide, to Control Mosquito Populations, 2000 - 2004.
  • State Plans:
    • California WNV State Plan integrated mosquito management criteria for Sacramento/Yolo County adult mosquitoes and for immature mosquitoes.
    • Connecticult State Plan
    • Vermont WNV Response Plan by Vermont Public Interest Group is a wealthy resource and depicts some ideal strategies in managing mosquitoes and WNV.
    • New York State WNV Response Plan is generally referred to as a fairly good tiered structure.
  • See Publications for more mosquito management information
    
    
• Mosquito Abatement Districts - Mosquito management can be under a range of governmental jurisdictions (such as the Dept. of Health or Dept. of Agriculture or other publically accountable agency), or it may be handled by local or regional abatement districts. While not all districts are created equal, some have shown little to no responsiveness to public concern over the use of adulticides, particularly in urban areas, and have provided a shield behind which elected officials hide from public discontent over mosquito management practices. At least one district is made up of industry employees from Clark Mosquito Control. Some districts however are endowed with good funding and employ experts who can do a thorough and professional job of managing the WNV threat. Ex: Abatement district in Colorado (01/03).
  

• Platforms and Positions Against Spraying
  • National Alliance for Informed Mosquito Management (AIMM) Platform (Beyond Pesticides)
  • Resolution on Pesticide Application for Mosquitoes Carrying WNV (CO Sierra Club Chapter)
  • Position Statement (Alliance for Sensible Mosquito Management)
  • West Nile Virus Position Statement (Green Decade Coalition/Newton, MA)
    
    
• Reports
  • Public Health Mosquito Management Strategy: For Decision Makers and Communities (Beyond Pesticides)
  • Survey of Mosquito Control Practices and Less-Toxic Alternatives (Tom Hemmick)
• Health Effects of Pesticides Used for Mosquito Control (Citizens Campaign for the Environment)
• Overkill (Special editions in CA, ME, CT) (Maine Environmental Policy Institute)
• WNV, Vermont, And Pesticides: A Guide for the Public, Policymakers and News Media (VPIRG)
  
  
• Studies that help build your case - <Under Construction> It is always important to be able to cite studies that underpin the reasons for your beliefs. The studies listed on this link will help do that.
  
  
• WNv Listserves - Especially for activists, see listserv organized by Maine Environmental Policy Institute, or the broader listserve from nospray in New York. Other listservs include Cornell University's email discussion group for communication and discussion about West Nile Virus, particularly regarding
  policy, risk reduction and public education issues (include your name and contact information). Listserv with researchers and vector control on mosquito management methods.
  
  
• Weblinks: Links to Links
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Links to state mosquito plans, other CDC Links
  Cornell University's Weblinks
  American Mosquito Control Association Links
  Mosquito.org Links
  Mosquitozone.com Featured Link
  Washington State WNV Resources for Local Health Depts

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