My Take: Scotts Tainted Birdseed

I always wondered what Scotts was doing in the birdseed business anyway.

The Scotts Company, after all, is the maker of Ortho® insect killers, Scotts® GrubEx® Season-Long Grub Killer, Miracle-Gro® Garden Weed Preventer, and Roundup® (which uses the word "kill" no fewer than 7 times on its webpage!)

And Scotts, after all, is in the Monsanto Company.  Yes, THAT Monsanto Company - the maker of DDT, Agent Orange, bovine growth hormones, and PCBs.  THAT Monsanto that is responsible for numerous Superfund sites.  THAT Monsanto that acquired a company that patented a seed technology nicknamed "Terminators".  How prescient!

In my mind, chemicals (especially those you apply to lawns and gardens, trees, plants, and shrubs to KILL things), birds, and birdseed just don't mix.  In the most simple sense:

• When chemicals are applied to kill insects, those chemicals are coating and killing the same insects that birds (as well as countless other wildlife) eat.
• When chemicals are applied to kill weeds or less-than-desireable grasses in lawns and gardens, those chemicals coat the surfaces where birds forage for food.

So when the maker of such chemicals entered the birdfeeding business, I was shocked.

FULL DISCLOSURE:  I co-own and operate a wild bird feeding hobby store (see postscript below).

Scotts Wild Bird Foods took off flying with a marketing campaign to convince birdfeeding hobby enthusiasts that their birdseed attracted more colorful birds than other birdseed.  Who doesn't want lots of colorful birds like Indigo Buntings, Northern Cardinals, and American Goldfinches at their birdfeeders (and all at one time!)  But I'll refrain from going down that avenue...(she jests: "get more colorful birds with birdseed coated with leftover Agent Orange.")

Scotts named their birdseed blends with happy, placid names like "Country Pride" (how patriotic) and  "Morning Song".  Little did we know that that very "Morning Song" blend could be a "Mourning Song" for the birds that ate it.

You see, Scotts has recently pled GUILTY to violating federal pesticide laws by using an unapproved insecticide on their birdseed.  Since 2005, their "Morning Song" and "Country Pride" birdseed was laced with these unapproved insecticides that are TOXIC to the very birds their customers were trying to attract and feed! 

To add insult to injury, a staff chemist and ornithologist WARNED Scotts about the dangers of these chemicals.

The chemicals were added by Scotts to try to keep insects from infesting the seed.  Let's see...they added chemicals to protect the seed from spoiling (and thus protect their profits) but that killed the birds that ate it.  Hmmm.... 

Millions and millions of bags of this chemical-coated seed were sold to unsuspecting hobby enthusiasts across the country.  And we'll never know how many birds (and other wildlife) perished as a result of Scotts profits-over-environmental safety philosophy and irresponsibility in dismissing warnings.

My personal response will be a rejection of all products that I'm aware of that Monsanto/Scotts manufactures.  I already refrain from using lawn or garden chemicals, but as I peruse ads selling gardening products for the upcoming season, I will avoid the MiracleGro-brand plant foods and the potting mixes I have used in the past.  It will be hard to do - the garden shops I go to have an abundance of Scotts, Miracle-Gro, Ortho, and Round-up products. 

No one says doing the right thing is always easy.  There are other choices out there, you just might have to look a little harder. 

My colorful goldfinches (attracted just fine without Scotts so-called "Colorful Bird" blend) will do just fine without a Monsanto/Scotts product of any type in their bloodstream.

Sources:  Environmental News Service, The Columbus (OH) Dispatch, and Wikipedia.

Postscript:  I want readers to know that even though I own a birdfeeding hobby store, I can honestly say that Scotts' presence in the birdseed business has not and does not impact my business, financially or otherwise.  This post was written without any vendetta-fueled hostility towards Scotts or Monsanto; rather, it voices my passionate concern for the birds, wildlife, and the environment as a whole.

Comments

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Atlanta, the "safest" fertilizers in my opinion are not chemical at all. I haven't used chemicals on my yard or garden for years; I feel that's the best route.

[Atlanta L.]

We should be extra careful when applying chemicals in our lawn because this can affect the health of other animals. This can also cause risk for our kids health that's why we must have enough knowledge about the fertilizers that we are using. Seeking the help of experts can help you in the proper application of safe fertilizers for your lawn.

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Julie, Monsanto's environmental record is horrendous and has been for years. I hope one of your local stores adds another choice for you. Thanks for adding your thoughts.

[Julie Zickefoose]

Yep. How I wish I had another source of seed. Alas, all three outlets in my little town stock nothing but Scott's products. It's awful. Why are we surprised that Monsanto put their profits ahead of the health of the very birds they were feeding? They do that with humans, too, and they do their best to crush the small farmers who struggle under ridiculous USDA "rules" which heavily favor agribusiness over independent producers. It's enough to make you go back to the land for everything. Well done, Nancy.

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Susan, thanks for sharing via Twitter!
Polly and Beatriz, thanks for caring and for your comments!

[Beatriz Moisset]

Every bag of bird seed should have a sticker saying something like: "This is not a complete diet, please supplement it with seeds grown in your garden and with baby bird food (e.g. insects) also grown in your garden".

It is such a paradox when people buy bird seed and poison the insects that are necessary for their babies.

[Polly Windels]

Thanks for the info. Hated the companies to begin with, but now this!

[Susan Ellis]

Shared and tweeted. Thanks for the information. I don't/won't buy prepared seed mixes...finding that black sunflower seed, niger, shelled nuts, and suet work perfectly well!

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Curt, from my position, I'm reluctant to START one, though one is certainly warranted. I'd sign on though!!
Margaret, what we don't know can be deadly.
Vincent, Thanks!
Linda G., thanks for your action letting Scotts know how you feel and thanks for your comment. Please feel free to share this post with your friends.
Ellen, thanks and I'm glad the post helped you. Take care.

[Ellen]

I had no idea until I read your post that Scotts was part of Monsanto, a company that engages in what I consider unethical business practices. Thank you for sharing this information. We all need to be informed consumers!

[Linda G]

When I heard of this I tweeted Scotts and told them I would never use their products again. Money certainly blinds people. Very sad indeed!

[Curt R]

So, how about a Facebook petition to let them know what you think?
Does Scotts still do this?

[Vincent Mistretta]

You go girl!

[Margaret]

I hear you on that one. Monsanto doesn't need my money. Folks should realize that, just because a product is being sold, it doesn't mean that it is safe!