What are the regulations regarding the use of pesticides to control mammals or birds or to apply pesticides to water?

• A. You must obtain a special permit from DATCP and/or Wisconsin DNR.
• B. In most cases you do not need a permit to control mice or rats; to apply to water you must be certified in Category 5.0 Aquatic and Mosquito.
• C. Permits are required for all mammals, birds, and water applications.
• D. Permits are never required for any of these uses.

Answer: (B)

In Wisconsin, pesticide use for vertebrate pests and for water sites is governed mainly by what you’re certified to do rather than by separate permits. For mammals or birds, you generally don’t need a special permit to control them with a labeled pesticide—as long as you’re properly certified to use the product and you follow the label directions. The important caveat is to check if the product is a restricted-use pesticide; if so, you must be certified for that use.

The key requirement for applying pesticides to water is different: you must hold the Category 5.0 Aquatic and Mosquito certification. This category covers work on water and around aquatic habitats and ensures you understand the environmental considerations and specific rules for aquatic applications.

So, the typical situation is no extra permit is needed for vertebrate control, but water applications require the aquatic/mosquito certification.