4. GLBs DISRUPT THE ECOSYSTEM
High levels of noise pollution exert a deleterious effect on wildlife. For example, loud noise interferes in communication between birds, impacting their courtship and production of chicks. This may contribute to the steep decline witnessed in migratory songbird populations. Loud noise also favors predators, as prey lose their ability to hear them.
The high force of air from blowers impacts insects, ground-dwelling or burrowing animals, and vital soil microbes. The invertebrates that are vital to pollination and soil health—essentially the base of the food chain—are particularly affected when leaves are blown away. GLBs destroy the habitat of butterflies, beetles, bees, moths and other creatures that make their homes and lay their eggs in leaves. A 2019 German environment ministry statement says the prevalence of gas-powered leaf blowers is contributing to the current worldwide decline in insects.
It is common ecological knowledge that leaf litter is the blanket that protects soil communities from drying, heating, and erosion, says noted entomologist and University of Delaware Professor Douglas Tallamy. “There are 70 species of moths and several butterfly species that develop as caterpillars on dead leaves,” Tallamy told Quiet Clean NOVA. “Over 90% of the caterpillars that develop on trees drop from the trees to pupate in leaf litter or the loose soil it protects. So removing leaves from an area definitely hurts insects.”
5. WHAT ALTERNATIVES EXIST?
Gas-powered leaf blowers are not the only way to deal with leaves. Battery-powered leaf blowers, rakes, battery-powered mowers that mulch — all of these are quieter, less-polluting methods available to homeowners and professional landscape crews alike. Many gardeners advocate leaving fallen leaves alone or leaving a portion of your yard “natural” to protect pollinators and other vital wildlife.
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