Pesticide Databases
There are precious few active ingredients registered for the control of vertebrate pests. The reason is because what can kill pest vertebrates can also harm humans and animals that we wish to protect (known as non-targets). But even with the few dozen active ingredients, there are a myriad of pesticide formulations with different uses permitted by the label.
For a novice in pesticide application, it can be very confusing. Can I use this product near structures or not? Is there a product for prairie voles or can I only find products for meadow voles? Fortunately, there are a few databases that can help you locate pesticides.
The first of the pesticide databases is Kellysolutions.com. This company compiles data from most states in the U.S. into a searchable form. It allows you to search by company, product, pest, registration number, site, formulation and even multiple criteria.
NPIRS is the alternative of the pesticide databases http://ppis.ceris.purdue.edu/ . It is run by Purdue University. NPIRS doesn’t let you search by pest or site use. But it does allow searches by EPA Registration number, product name, company name, and active ingredient.
Remember, using pesticides safety is not only good environmental practice, it is the law. Read the labels carefully and follow the instructions.
Stephen M. Vantassel is a vertebrate pest specialist. He is available for speaking, writing, research, and consultation.