We often hear the expression “endangered species” and question what the term means. To be endangered, the species must be in danger of becoming extinct throughout all or most of its range. It is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s responsibility to identify the range or current critical habitat areas of each endangered species. Certified pesticide applicators have a clearly defined responsibility to protect endangered species against the exposures caused by pesticides.

Applicator Awareness
So what is an endangered species? An endangered species can be classified as either a plant or an animal. Both animals and plants that are determined to be endangered are protected by a federal law named the Endangered Species Act. Under this act, it becomes a federal offense to use any type of pesticide which will result in the death of any member of an endangered species. Before an applicator makes an application, he or she must determine that endangered species are not located immediately adjacent to the site to be treated.

Florida has the second highest number of endangered species, which are threatened in all regions. Throughout the Sunshine State, 34% of mammals are in danger of extinction, while other groups — such as reptiles, fish, and plants — also are facing environmental challenges. Some of these creatures include the southeastern brown bat and the revered West Indian manatee.

In Florida, reptiles, fish, and plants are facing many environmental challenges.

Why is it so important to be aware of your actions when applying a pesticide to a targeted site? Aquatic resources like lakes, rivers, streams, and estuaries are extremely valuable natural-resource assets enjoyed by millions of people. These environments can all be impacted by a lack of proper pesticide management. If used improperly, pesticides or pesticide residues can pollute water supplies or build up to dangerous levels in the environment harming birds, fish, or wildlife.

Be Prepared
To avoid these dangerous situations, read the label. It will contain environmental precautions, which will specifically apply to air, water, soil, or wildlife. If the pesticide you are using does have the potential for harming an endangered species or its habitat, the label will indicate this in the “Environmental Hazard” section. This section of the label is found under the general heading, “Precautionary Statements.” It also will have its own “Environmental Hazards” heading. Statements like: “This pesticide is toxic to fish, aquatic invertebrates, and aquatic life stages of amphibians” will clearly be stated in this section and might be followed with directions not to apply directly into water. The environmental hazards section might also state that the effects of drift or runoff may be hazardous to aquatic organisms in areas near the site where you are making an application. In this section of the label, you also might be instructed not to clean your equipment near water sources for fear of contamination. To determine the fate of a pesticide’s toxicity to wildlife such as mammals, fish, birds, aquatic invertebrates, and pollinating insects, a series of tests will take place before releasing the pesticide.

It is the obligation of the applicator to understand which endangered species might be impacted in the area you are applying pesticides. To obtain this information, there are a number of University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension bulletins. These bulletins can be downloaded from the St. Lucie County Extension Web site (http://stlucie.ifas.ufl.edu). A number of publications containing information on endangered species specific to various regions of Florida are available to examine if you research UF/IFAS’ Electronic Data Information Source.

It’s In Your Hands
It’s the responsibility of the applicator to read all pesticide labeling and determine if the use of the product poses any adverse effects to endangered species. By carefully reading the label, you should be able to determine those factors which might cause contamination of the environment with misapplication of pesticides.

When applying pesticides, make sure the wind speed is no more than 10 mph in order to reduce travel of pesticide to nearby areas. If there is a question on wind speed, always refer back to the label. Application should be performed when the temperature is as cool as possible, such as in the early morning or evening. Always pay attention to information in the potential hazards section of the label, with specific concern for bees, fish, endangered plants, or animals.

As a certified applicator, you have a legal and moral obligation to protect endangered species against the exposure to pesticides. By carefully reading the label and applying pesticides, you will be able to protect crucial habitat — including both plants and animals. Remember the label is the law.

Ed Skvarch is a commercial horticulture educator at the UF/IFAS St. Lucie County Extension Office in Ft. Pierce, FL.