Comment from Whitmore, Rachel
Rachel WhitmoreOpposeIndividual
Summary: Rachel Whitmore opposes the use of insecticides on public lands to control grasshoppers and Mormon crickets. She argues that such "blanket" chemical approaches harm essential pollinators and suggests that promoting native species diversity to encourage natural predators is a better solution.
To all it may concern,
I am opposed to spraying insecticide on public lands. In order for natural systems to survive, we must not use a blanket approach just to control one pest in the landscape. Pollinators such as bees, bumblebees, butterflies, and moths are essential and are already in decline. They absolutely need protecting in our public lands. They are essential to plant diversity and reproduction and nourish birds, fish, bats, and humans, as well as other creatures.
Spraying any kind of poison in an ecosystem has repercussions that may be unforeseen. Promoting native species diversity means that predator creatures would thrive and control the numbers of grasshoppers and Mormon crickets naturally. Insecticides are not the correct solution.
Thank you,
Rachel Whitmore