They don't spray for mosquitoes here in my socialist hellhole. I approve, because the spray only sort of works to eliminate mosquitoes, and does a great deal of harm to other insects, which as we all know are in a precipitous decline, as well as harming birds that eat insects.
But this means mosquitoes are pretty bad at the moment. I had one inside the house last night.
They're really bad at the dog park at the moment, so I might have to stop going.
Tips? Suggestions?
2 comments:
I've been looking into this, since I recently discovered (via reading one of those little plastic signs on a wire stick) that my church *is* spraying. Since we at least theoretically have a commitment to caring for the earth (there's a certificate on the wall that says we belong to our denomination's network and everything!), those of us who think spraying is incompatible with that commitment need to start a conversation (which we hope will be less heated than the one about climate change, but time will tell; I really do believe that it's good to talk to and even attend church with people with whom I disagree politically, but that belief has definitely been tested over the last decade or so*).
Anyway, here's the recommended solution, which you could certainly deploy in your own yard, and might be able to rally other dog park users to set up at the dog park: https://sidewalknature.com/2022/05/08/mosquito-bucket-of-doom/ . I have no idea how well it works in practice; most people seem to agree that defenses such as long sleeves and pants, bug-net hats, and repellants, with all their admitted downsides, especially in hot weather, are the most effective answer.
*We did, at least, get agreement from the governing board to fly a version of the trans inclusive flag outside the church when the youth (God bless the youth) proposed doing so, and the youth pastor (God bless her, too) led them through the process of formally making the request. Though a few people threatened to leave over that, I don't think anybody actually did (probably because the people who were inclined to leave in a huff had already done so over the -- very reasonable -- responses to covid). I suspect its periodical display has even brought us some of the new members who have arrived recently: both individuals and families that could be classified as "queer" in some way and cishet straight couples who want to bring up their children in an inclusive church (on general principles, and also because who knows what an infant's sexuality and/or gender identity will turn out to be, and they'd like to be able to navigate a variety of possible futures without having to change churches).
I can at least do the bucket o doom in my own backyard. Thanks!
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