OTNP April 2024 www.puravidaaquatic.com/wordpress/why-i-started-this/
I want to clarify something I said in last months posting with respect to new classes of pesticides that target molting. I said: This is done by looking for chemicals that target, modify, and damage complex DNA regulatory based molting systems …. Couldn’t possibly hurt humans or endangered mammals because we don’t molt. But … these DNA regulatory systems also have homologues in mammals such as mice, and … bats …, and us. What could _possibly_ go wrong?
To expand: Some of the (molting) DNA homologues that occur in mice, bats, and virtually all mammals, make up part of the largest family of transcription factors in the human genome. They are known as zinc finger (ZNF) proteins if you want to look them up. They regulate genetic systems; some of which we have not even started to identify yet! Systems such as brain development (Micro encephaly www.puravidaaquatic.com/wordpress/report-says-monsanto-linked-pesticide-is-to-blame-for-microcephaly-outbreak-not-zika/), cancer defense, immune system regulation, and even organ development. Hey let’s spray a compound that causes an increase in cancer and then another compound that damages our body’s ability to fight that cancer. And then argue for 20+ years about which _one_ is at fault. I would like to reiterate; what could _possibly_ go wrong😀
There is utterly no reason for mega environmental organizations to be hoarding the FOIA information that they have been able to acquire from the government. This is one of the most non-sustainable behaviors with respect to society that I have seen in ages. I am seriously, and passionately encouraging everyone to reconsider _all_ contributions to big businesses that advocate one thing and do another in the name of the environment.
I have sent many emails to dozens of environmental groups, and there are two that have responded in a kind and open manner, and even publish information on pesticide overuse. These two environmental groups are the Center for Biological Diversity, and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Since I’m in North America I would recommend contributing to the Center for Biological Diversity. And I particularly like their recent post https://act.biologicaldiversity.org/1m3X0nfTM0ee5Wmc2euDjg2
If you are in the UK I would encourage it to be the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
I would however like to encourage the CfBD to not get lost in the fracking debate. If the CfBD wants to research and identify specific fracking chemicals that it believes are a problem that would be great.
We all know that our native mammalian rodent predators (mountain lions, bobcats) are suffering from the widespread use of rodentcides. But it seems to me that snakes would be even more at risk. A snake gets much much more of it’s nutrition from single meals. And if one of those meals was a poisoned rodent it would receive a much higher concentration of the rodentcide then a mammalian predator. I have called UC schools, Environmental departments, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, I have called snake conservation groups and I am having a hard time finding anyone who will return a call or who knows who I might speak with who has some knowledge of historic snake populations (particularly rodent predators such as rattle, gopher, racers, and red rat) and whether they are declining due to the rodentcides. I did receive one response; a _wonderful_ reply from a woman at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and she gave me the contact immediately below. Do we even have an estimate of various snake species’ _current_ populations so that in 20 years we could compare: no.
I have recently learned from two different sources of a project sponsored by The Friends Of Griffith Park to learn more about our snake friends. The biggest problem with this research that I can see is that it does not separate the likelihood of acute toxicity by rodentcides from chronic toxicity but it’s wonderful that this group is putting money into much needed research!
Also, while I generally favor mechanical control methods over poisons. I agree that glue traps are particularly problematic.
All of this above; and a great question by Pam from the Sierra Club Margarita Group, is what actually led to my concern about natural rodent control (ie snakes) being poisoned by the chemical companies the same way that mosquito predators are poisoned by aerial spraying by Southern California county programs. And bats being poisoned too! 53$ billion my friends.
I have seen so many insecticide products advertised as being “bee safe” because it has to be ingested.
🛑 … whiskey … tango … foxtrot.
Ever seen a bee cleaning itself — or worse, not cleaning itself right away and taking it back to the hive. I’ve seen many a praying mantis, lace wing, spider (natural predators) cleaning themselves and thus ingesting whatever they have been forced to live in and walk around in. Please remember we are spraying where they live, essentially inside their homes!
Every single item above is why I started thinking about what we could actually _do_ (see the link at the top) about these issues.
I think it is criminal so many conservation organizations are enablers of the big pesticide manufacturers in our national parks. The nature conservancy should not be advocating that they are “conserving nature” while spraying pesticides on ” their” property and refusing to disclose what they are spraying.
😊 I truly believe that there are three little things that _we all_ can start doing today to begin holding our environmental groups accountable once again. 😊. Don’t you be an enabler for these groups.
www.puravidaaquatic.com/wordpress/what-can-anyone-do-about-the-pesticide-use-in-our-national-parks/
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