It finds gamekeepers leading the way, their use of a planned approach increasing from 30%
to 59% over the two years. Among farmers, the less desirable option of reactive control has
declined from 43% to 38%.
The period covered is one year pre- and one year post-introduction in October 2016 of the
UK Rodenticide Stewardship Regime, which commissioned the work.
Stewardship spokesman and Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use chairman Dr Alan
Buckle applauds the progress but also cautions that it needs to accelerate if lower
rodenticide levels in wildlife are to be detected in time for the Government's formal review
of stewardship in 2020.
"Underpinning the positive progress identified," he suggests, "the study also reports that
farmers' and gamekeepers' understanding of poor practice, which leads to environmental
risks, has increased.
"Another indicator of improving practice is declining use of permanent baiting with
rodenticides. Significantly fewer gamekeepers employ this practice, down from 44% to 25%.
The shift by farmers is much less dramatic, from 39% to 37%.
"While both groups are going in the right direction, this is a concern if one-in-four
gamekeepers and one-in-three farmers still consider routine permanent baiting essential
today. It is no longer an option under the stewardship regime and new farm assurance
standards, so needs eliminating as a routine measure by all users."
Dr Buckle emphasises that the government panel overseeing rodenticide stewardship is
concerned not only with changes for the better in control practice but also, more
importantly, measurable downward movement of rodenticide residue levels in non-target
animals.
"Without such evidence," he adds, "we should anticipate further restrictions on where
rodenticides can be used, and by whom. Clearly, this places responsibility squarely in users'
own hands."