My nine-year-old son can identify any toad in our yard by its species. Our toads have been captured so frequently that they seem to accept their fate as if it’s just another day. They look at my sons with a sort of resignation, as if to say, “Oh, it’s that pink monkey-alien again.” Once caught, they’re happily fed with all the worms my kids can dig up from the rich soil. The toads enjoy it and don’t hop away. I watch this unfold while I sip coffee on my front porch, listening to the morning chorus of cardinals, sparrows, and wrens. We adore our toads and birds, which is why, unlike many others in our community, we choose not to spray pesticides to eliminate mosquitoes.
People often think we’re crazy. Even my own mother-in-law shares this sentiment.
I try to explain the reasoning behind our decision. Amphibians are particularly susceptible to toxins. If we spray for mosquitoes, we risk harming our beloved toads and potentially losing the tiny baby toadlets that hop around our sidewalk in late spring. We could also lose Spigot Frog, the treefrog residing near our garden spigot who sings loudly whenever the air gets damp (which is frequent, considering we live in a former malarial swamp). Big Green Treefrogs, which cling to our windows at night (adorable to us, though possibly alarming to others), would disappear too.
Using pesticides would mean eliminating not just mosquitoes but also a myriad of other insects. While many might not care about bugs, the reality is that 96% of birds rely on insects to feed their young. This year, we’ve had doves nesting in our carport and cardinals near our trampoline—those are just the nests we can observe. Cardinals, sparrows, wrens, and thrushes all visit our yard daily, foraging for bugs. If we began using pesticides, they would likely vanish.
Moreover, pesticides would negatively impact lizards, bees (which are already in decline, and we know how crucial they are), and countless other beneficial creatures. The consequences of using pesticides are extensive.
Living with Mosquitoes
So, we endure the mosquitoes. They can be unbearable—yes, we’re fortunate that ours don’t carry malaria or yellow fever, which devastated early European settlers (though that’s a separate conversation). Still, they bite mercilessly and can transmit West Nile and Zika. By late June, we’ve become so accustomed to their bites that the welts typically vanish within ten minutes. We play a game of sorts, comparing the pain of bites on different parts of our bodies.
This situation might sound like a nightmare to most, and indeed, many choose to spray. But in our household, we rely on lemon eucalyptus-based insect repellent, which is nearly as effective as 98.1% DEET. I wake up, groggy, and spray myself, and yes, I often smell like lemon eucalyptus. My children do too. We also use mosquito netting strategically placed over our hammock and porch chairs, and we’ve covered our pool with a mosquito-proof tent.
Since mosquitoes bother me more than the heat, I usually wear jeans with large holes in the knees and a long-sleeved shirt in the mornings. We also vigilantly eliminate all standing water—quite an achievement for a family of five with ADHD.
Prioritizing Nature Over Convenience
Most of our neighbors opt to spray pesticides. Their primary concern tends to be financial; the cost of anti-mosquito supplies—like nets and sprays—can be high upfront. They often don’t want to bear that cost, but in the long run, they spend more on spraying than we do on an entire year’s worth of supplies.
Many simply don’t want to deal with bugs. I understand the frustration; I’m often on my porch, sprayed and swatting away. However, according to Scientific American, North America has lost three billion birds since 1970. Yes, three billion. Pesticides have contributed significantly to this decline; although many are agricultural, backyard pesticides certainly play a role.
I refuse to add to that number.
We’re all aware of the bees’ plight. We must protect them. Even minimal doses of commonly used pesticides can disorient bees and prevent them from returning to their hives. They may also carry these toxins back to their hives, causing further harm.
One of my kids has a severe reaction to bee stings, so we maintain a strict no-kill policy for wasps. But I won’t harm bees if I can avoid it.
I also want to protect butterflies, moths (like the gigantic one we found by our door recently), and even the red-sided millipedes my kids adore—despite my own distaste. Not to mention the cute bronze skinks and our beloved resident, Trashcan Anoele, who has lived on our supercan for years. If he can’t find food, he’ll perish. The same goes for Mailbox Anoele and Shutter Frog.
My children need to experience as much of the wild as possible. We may not have a sprawling forest, but we must be good stewards of our little patch of nature. If we want them to catch toads, butterflies, and fireflies, and to witness hummingbirds, we must refrain from using pesticides.
So yes, I may smell like lemon eucalyptus, but the wrens sing joyfully from opposite ends of my yard.
For more on nurturing your family through nature, check out this other blog post, as well as resources from Progyny for insights on pregnancy and home insemination. If you’re interested in surrogacy, this authority provides valuable information.
Summary
Our family has chosen to forgo pesticides to protect the local wildlife, particularly toads, birds, and bees, despite the annoyance of mosquitoes. This commitment to maintaining a natural yard not only benefits our local ecosystem but also enriches our children’s experiences with nature.