John,

Every year, 150 million acres of crops are planted with seeds coated in pesticides. They're so toxic to birds that eating just one seed is enough to kill them.1,2

But here's the real shocker: Seeds coated in neonicotinoid pesticides aren't regulated as pesticides by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It's a lethal loophole that's contributing to a devastating decline in bird and bee populations around the country.3

Environment Colorado is calling on the EPA to close this loophole and save the birds and bees. We can't do it without you. To help these pollinators, we've set a goal of raising $30,000 by the end of September.

Will you donate to help protect birds and bees from pesticide-coated seeds?

Neonicotinoid pesticides (neonics) are connected to the alarming declines in bird populations. Almost a third of North America's birds have disappeared since 1970.4

It's a new silent spring.

Migrating birds have no chance of avoiding these deadly pesticides when they travel over farm country, stopping for snacks on their journey. Worse yet, neonics leach into waterways, where they can persist for years and kill insects that birds also rely on for food.5

Pesticide-coated seeds are also terrible for bees. As the seed grows, every part of the plant is toxic for a bee. Laced with deadly neonics, the pollen bees collect from the plant's flowers can poison them.

If these pesticides were sprayed on fields, they'd be regulated by the EPA. But when seeds are dipped in pesticides, they fly completely under the radar.

We can close this loophole and stop these senseless deaths, but the pesticide industry will fight us tooth and nail.

John, your support will help us advocate for bees, songbirds and all of our pollinators. Will you donate to help make our Fall 2023 Drive a success?

Thank you,

Ellen Montgomery

1. S.D. Frank and J.F. Tooker, "Neonicotinoids pose undocumented threats to food webs," PNAS, September 2, 2020.
2. Kimberly Stoner, "Best Management Practices for Farmers Using Seeds Treated With Neonicotinoid Insecticides," Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, January 1, 2017.
3. Steve Blackledge, "The loophole that lets toxic seeds kill birds and poison bees," Environment America, January 27, 2023.
4. Valerie Yurk, "Alarm as pesticides spur rapid decline of US bird species," The Guardian, August 10, 2020.
5. Stephen Leahy, "Insect 'apocalypse' in U.S. driven by 50x increase in toxic pesticides," National Geographic, August 6, 2019.

Your donation will be used to support all of our campaigns to protect the environment, from saving the bees and protecting public lands, to standing up for clean water and fighting climate change. None of our work would be possible without supporters like you. Environment Colorado may transfer up to $50 per dues-paying member per year into the Environment Colorado Small Donor Committee.