Is mosquito spray dangerous to fish?

[Skydog]

This morning, I doped up with a DEET based spray (Deep Woods Off) with the intention of doing some weeding. I walked by the pond and my ADD kicked in and I started to rearrange some plants, forgetting all about the spray I'd applied. Should I be worried? The pond is 1500 gallons.

 

[Tula]

I don't think I'd worry too much. I wouldn't spray it on myself near the pond, as the spray could drift into the pond. I also think I'd be careful about placing my hands in the pond if the repellent was on my hands and arms.

 

[mrsclem]

I use the Deep Woods Off as the deer ticks are bad here. I try not to spray my hands and arms if I know I will be working in the ponds but sometimes things happen. I have not had a problem with it so far as it would be a very small amount.

 

[Skydog]

Yeah, it was a spur of the moment lapse of thought!

 

[addy1]

doubt enough went in to hurt the pond

Yeah, it was a spur of the moment lapse of thought!

We all have had those!

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I made that mistake with my 400g pond a couple years ago. Had some on my arms, but thankfully nothing bad happened. Being that I'm in the woods so much and frequently interacting with my surroundings, I never put bug spray on my hands. I'd hate to pick up a turtle or snake or something without thinking about it. I try not to put the stuff on me ever unless I'm going to a place where mosquitoes are really bad and unavoidable. There's just something about putting chemicals on my skin that makes me nervous.

 

[mrsclem]

I don't like chemicals on me either but better that than a tick or two or ten

 

[Skydog]

I'm not wild about the chemicals, and the 40% DEET makes me feel weird, but the threat of Lyme disease, Powassan, or West Nile virus, scares me more!

 

[max384]

As a doctor, I can tell you that a little DEET during the summer months is the lesser of two evils compared to insect-borne diseases. And I'm not crazy about chemicals on my body either...

I wouldn't worry about the pond... But I'd also avoid doing it in the future.