Insecticides rated moderate may also cause death or sickness, although death is unlikely. Insecticides rated low are unlikely to harm wildlife directly. Granular Insecticides Granular insecticides present a serious hazard to birds. Birds eat granules exposed on the sofl surface, mistaking them for food and grit. Ingesting only a few granules of a toxic insecticide can kill a small bird.
Incorporation is especially impor- tant near field edges where many birds search for food and grit.
Disking spilled granules under the soil at row ends significantly reduces wildlife exposure to the granules. If soil incorporation is not possible, consider using a liquid formulation following the guidelines in the next section. Several studies of aerial applica- tions of pesticides have reported significant drift of material into nearby wildlife habitats. Ground application may also allow wildlife more time to leave the area during the spraying opera- tion. Spray drift can be minimized by using application equipment with low drift characteristics, replacing inappropriate or wom nozzles, using appropriate pressure and volume for the chosen nozzle, and adding a drift control agent.