Fly Away will not harm birds or animals. However, some studies have shown the active ingredient (methyl anthranilate) can be slightly toxic to young fish. This occurs if high concentrations of MA are present in a confined area where fish cannot escape – an unlikely situation when Fly Away is used as directed. Fly Away blocks and granules disperse MA into the air through an aromatic process. They should not be applied directly to any body of water or waterway, however incidental runoff from land to water is expected with normal use.
Although FDA approved active ingredient, Fly Away BMS is not manufactured with the stringent sanitation standards found in the food industry. It should therefore be stored in a safe place away from children and pets, and proper protection is recommended when handling and applying.Endangered Birds
Before using Fly Away BMS or any other means of bird mitigation, it’s important to ensure you’re acting responsibly and lawfully with respect to wildlife and the environment. It’s unlawful to disturb or threaten any bird species protected under the Endangered Species Act as explained in these U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Wildlife Federation resources.
“With 35+ years of growing/managing over 150 acres of cherries, I’ve battled bird issues for sure. I consider Early Robin/Rainier, Chelan, and Santina to be like bird magnetsas these varieties are the first fruit to begin ripening in the entire region. After 4 years of working with Flyaway BMS as a tool, I no longer consider birds as a major pest. Once we place the product to keep the birds away from our earliest varieties, they don’t seem to return during our normal 3 weeks of harvest. Because of the products’ longevity, we’ve also been successful in removing product pouches and placing them into Honey Crisp & Gala blocks to increase the return on investment, truly a great product!”
- Jim Kelley, grower & consultant, Kennewick, WA