In 2004, I decided to treat my own yard for ticks. I needed to find a material that that I could count on to kill ticks.  With a toddler and a baby on the way, as well as an array of household pets, I needed to find a material that was safe.  Talstar is formulated to be completely safe for use in residential settings.  When it dries, usually after 30 minutes, it sticks to the grass and brush, and does not rub off on passers by.  It also resists getting washed off by rain for several weeks.  Another attribute to Talstar is that it adheres to the top 4cm of soil/surface and is biodegraded by sunlight and soil organisms.  This means that after a few months, there is absolutely no residue from a spray, as opposed to other materials which slowly toxify your property. Because our product does not permeate the soil layer, it Does Not Affect your well water. Once again, it is deadly for ticks, spiders, ants, and mosquitoes, but safe for us.