Eco Smart Mosquito & Tick Spray

[buggymuffin]

Has anyone used EcoSmart mosquito and tick spray around geese? Living in New England, the mosquitoes are horrendous and are known to carry disease like west nile virus. We have always used the ecosmart spray around our duck pen (we spray in the evening after they are locked up for the night so it has time to dry) with no issues, but I was wondering if anyone had experience using it around geese. We just added geese to the flock this year and would like to spray for mosquitoes to reduce the risk of illness but given that the geese eat the grass, I don't know if it will make them sick or not. It is all natural, but I know that doesn't equal safe. Any feedback is appreciated.

 

[HeritageGoose13]

You're spraying the grass? Why? Mosquitos lay their eggs in water, I don't think spraying grass would do anything.

 

[buggymuffin]

We spray the entire yard, grass, bushes, etc. Believe it or not, it keeps them at a minimum. We live on a brook, so there isn't much we can do about the water. It helps with ticks too, and given the deer population and the issues with lyme disease in this area, that is important too.

 

[HeritageGoose13]

I live in a swamp so I'm familiar with mosquitos and ticks. I just focus on avoiding them by wearing the right clothes and staying indoors when they're most active. I wouldn't spray that stuff where my geese were eating because I doubt its safe for them, geese are very sensitive. Though to be honest I wouldn't spray it anywhere. What are the ingredients?

 

[buggymuffin]

Active Ingredients:
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate2.0%
2-Phenethyl Propionate3.5%
Pepermint Oil1.0%
Rosemary Oil1.0%
Eugenol0.5%
Thyme Oil0.5%
Sesame Oil0.5%
Other Ingredients*91.0%
Total:100.0%

*Water, Wintergreen oil, Potassium oleate, Xanthan gum, Sorbic acid, Potassium salt, Lecithins

 

[HeritageGoose13]

I'd say the one to be most concerned about is sodium lauryl sulfate. Here:

http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_Chemical.jsp?Rec_Id=PC35205

Says it causes:

Inhalation Cough. Headache. Laboured breathing. Dry throat. Nasal congestion.
Skin Redness. Pain.
Eyes Redness. Pain. Corneal damage.
Ingestion Diarrhoea. Nausea. Vomiting.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Active Ingredients:
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate2.0%
2-Phenethyl Propionate3.5%
Pepermint Oil1.0%
Rosemary Oil1.0%
Eugenol0.5%
Thyme Oil0.5%
Sesame Oil0.5%
Other Ingredients*91.0%
Total:100.0%

*Water, Wintergreen oil, Potassium oleate, Xanthan gum, Sorbic acid, Potassium salt, Lecithins

I would contact the company and ask them.it looks safe enough but geese have a very sensitive respiratory track and they eat the grass which this will be sprayed on. I'd call first.

 

[buggymuffin]

I'll call. But I was really hoping someone had some personal experience with this.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'll call. But I was really hoping someone had some personal experience with this.

the reaction to one of the ingredients in the product is in post 6

 

[HeritageGoose13]

I doubt the person on the end of the phoneline knows much about geese. I think you should consider another method of mosquito control, not just for your geese, but for your sake as well. Also I would be concerned about having that sprayed since you say you live on a brook. Phenethyl Propionate has been known to kill "aquatic organisms" like frogs and mollusks according to that same site I linked to above. (It also kills honeybees.) Many of these products are not meant to be sprayed around water sources. If it gets in the water you're not just spraying your yard, but wherever the brook leads as well. I think the term "Eco Smart" is very misleading.