Pesticide Poisoning of Animals Report 2006
Species, Samples and the Pesticides Involved
Pets, Working Animals and Domestic Animals
Suspected poisoned baits and suspicious samples
All references to appendices in the text below refer to the appendices in the Pesticide Poisoning of Animals Report 2006 (pdf, 49 pages)
Wildlife: Mammals
In 2006, there were 47 incidents involving wild mammals and the cause of death was found in 32 of these incidents, with 14 confirmed as pesticide poisoning (see table 5 on page 15). Table 6 on page 16 shows the number and percentage of pesticide poisonings for the past 10 years.
Badger
The scheme investigated 9 incidents involving badgers and the cause of death was found in 7 of these, none of which was a confirmed pesticide poisoning.
Badger setts were involved in 3 incidents, 1 of misuse and 2 of abuse.
- In one incident (appendix 2, number 3), a treatment of aluminium phosphide intended to control rabbits included a badger sett and so this was considered to be a misuse of the pesticide.
- In an abuse incident (appendix 3, number 59), a badger sett was blocked with cattle afterbirth and slug pellets.
- In the other abuse incident (appendix 3, number 60), metaldehyde was stuffed into potatoes and left near a badger sett.
Fox
Foxes are considered to be a pest species and so they are often the target of illegal poisoning. Table 7 on page 16 shows the number and percentage of pesticide poisonings for the past 10 years.
In 2006, 14 incidents with foxes were investigated. The cause of death was found in 13 of these incidents, with nine confirmed as pesticide poisoning. Three of the pesticide poisonings were abuse (appendix 3, numbers 33, 61 and 65) and one was approved use.
- In the approved use incident (appendix 1, number 1), the bromadiolone residue in the fox’s liver was well into the level that can kill. The local authority had used bromadiolone to control rodents on the farm but there was no evidence of improper baiting.
Other wild mammals
The other wild mammals reported to the scheme in 2006 are shown in table 5 on page 15. The cause of death was found in 14 of these incidents, and five were confirmed as pesticide poisoning.
- The misuse of brodifacoum and difenacoum occurred in a misuse incident (appendix 2, number 5) where a dead stoat and weasel were found. Both brodifacoum and difenacoum were found in the stoat, and difenacoum in the weasel. Thirty-one dead rats were also found, in different states of decay and in clear view. Fifty-one baiting points were found, and these were mostly accessible to all animals.
- One incident involving difenacoum was misuse (appendix 2, number 11), where the death of several rabbits was reported.
- Another misuse incident (appendix 2, number 12) involved seven rats and difenacoum.
- One unspecified incident (appendix 4, number 2) involved a grey squirrel with significant residues of bromadiolone.
- In another unspecified incident (appendix 4, number 18) tests found that a hare was exposed to a product containing both paraquat and diquat.
Wildlife: Birds
A total of 212 incidents involving wild birds were investigated in 2006, and the cause of death was found in 120 of these incidents, with 71 identified as pesticide poisonings (see table 8 on pages 17 to 19). Table 9 on page 19 shows the number and percentage of pesticide poisonings for the past 10 years.
Birds of prey (including owls)
Birds of prey were involved in 134 incidents in 2006 (see table 8 on pages 17 to 19) and 49 were identified as pesticide poisonings. Table 10 on page 20 shows the number and percentage of pesticide poisonings for the past 10 years.
Common buzzard
In 2006, there were 68 reported incidents involving common buzzards. In 42 of the incidents, the cause of death was found, and 27 of these were recorded as pesticide poisoning.
Deliberate abuse of pesticides accounted for 22 incidents (appendix 3). The chemicals involved were aldicarb (one incident), alphachloralose (five incidents), carbofuran (13 incidents), carbofuran, alphachloralose and sodium cyanide (one incident), carbofuran and isofenphos (two incidents). The remaining pesticide incidents were associated with the unspecified use of bromadiolone (appendix 4, number 2), difenacoum (appendix 4, numbers 11 and 12) and phorate (appendix 4, number 19).
Red kite
In 2006, there were 20 reported incidents with red kites, some of which were birds from the programme to reintroduce red kites to the UK. The cause of death was identified in 13 incidents, with 12 being caused by pesticide poisoning.
- There were eight incidents arising from pesticide abuse (appendix 3), which involved the chemicals carbofuran (5 incidents, numbers 42 to 46) and alphachloralose (3 incidents, numbers 14 to 16).
- There was one incident where a veterinary product (diazinon) was involved (appendix 4, number 27).
- The other three incidents were all classed as unspecified (appendix 4, numbers 9, 15 and 17).
Golden eagle
Five incidents involving golden eagles were reported in 2006. The cause of death was found in three incidents and two of these were caused by pesticide poisoning. The abuse of carbofuran occurred in both incidents (appendix 3, numbers 34 and 35).
Peregrine falcon
Six incidents involving peregrine falcons were reported under the scheme during 2006. The cause of death was found in four incidents, and two incidents were the result of pesticide abuse. One involved alphachloralose (appendix 3, numbers 13) and the other carbofuran (number 36).
Other birds of prey
Other birds of prey were reported as possible pesticide poisoning victims. These included one goshawk, one hen harrier, one marsh harrier, four kestrels and 11 sparrowhawks. The cause of death was found in the goshawk, the marsh harrier, three of the kestrels and five of the sparrowhawks. Only one of the sparrowhawk deaths was attributed to pesticide poisoning, involving the chemicals bromadiolone and difenacoum (appendix 3, number 17).
Owls
In 2006, there were 18 incidents involving owls. Nine incidents involved barn owls, one involved an eagle owl, one involved a long-eared owl, one involved a short-eared owl and six involved tawny owls. The cause of death of the birds was identified in eight of the incidents, and four were confirmed as pesticide poisoning. One misuse case involved a tawny owl and bromadiolone (appendix 2, number 8). One abuse case involved alphachloralose and a tawny owl (appendix 3, number 12). Two cases involved barn owls, where the cause of death was unspecified. One involved bromadiolone and difenacoum (appendix 4, number 8) and the other involved difenacoum, brodifacoum and bromadiolone (appendix 4, number 16).
Corvids
In 2006, there were 43 incidents involving corvids (for example, crows, ravens magpies, jackdaws and rooks) and 18 of them were confirmed as pesticide poisoning. Abuse of pesticides caused 16 of these incidents. Table 11 on page 20 shows the number and percentage of pesticide poisonings for the past 10 years.
- Carbofuran was found in nine of the abuse incidents, of which five also involved other chemicals. One of these incidents (appendix 3, number 47) involved carbofuran and aldicarb, where a jackdaw and two magpies died.
- There was a misuse incident where seven rooks were killed, involving the chemical alphachloralose (appendix 2, number 2).
Other birds
In 2006, there were some incidents investigated with other bird species (see table 8 on pages 17 to 19 for details). However, only two of these incidents were attributed to pesticide poisoning.
- One misuse incident (appendix 2, number 2) involved alphachloralose and two chaffinches.
- One abuse incident (appendix 3, number 7) involved aldicarb and a gull.
Pets, Working Animals and Domestic Animals
In 2006, there were 97 incidents involving pets, working animals and domestic animals. The cause of death was found in 30 incidents, and 24 of these incidents were pesticide poisoning. Table 12 on page 21 shows the number and percentage of pesticide poisonings for the past 10 years.
Cats
In 2006, there were 31 incidents with cats, the cause of death was found in 10 incidents, and seven of these incidents involved pesticides. Table 14 on page 22 shows the number and percentage of pesticide poisonings for the past 10 years. Pesticide abuse accounted for three of the incidents (appendix 3, numbers 3, 4 and 48) and pesticide misuse for three incidents (appendix 2, numbers 1, 5 and 10).
Dogs
In 2006 the scheme investigated 56 incidents with dogs. The cause of death was found in 17 incidents and 16 of these incidents were confirmed as pesticide poisoning. Table 15 on page 22 shows the number and percentage of pesticide poisonings for the past 10 years.
One incident resulted from the approved use of bromadiolone and difenacoum.
The abuse of pesticides accounted for nine incidents (appendix 3, numbers 5, 6, 19, 56-58 and 64-66) and these incidents involved a range of compounds.
There was one incident (appendix 4, number 3) where the source of the pesticide (bromadiolone) was not known.
- In the approved incident (appendix 1, number 2), a dog died 48 hours after allegedly eating a rat carcase containing bromadiolone and difenacoum.
- In one of the abuse incidents (appendix 3, number 5), two dogs died and both tested positive for aldicarb.
Livestock
Livestock is not normally covered by the scheme, but they may be accepted if there are other environmental samples associated with the incident. There were five incidents reported (see table 12 on page 21 for details). The cause of death was found in three incidents, all of which were pesticide poisoning.
- In an abuse incident (appendix 3, number 67), bruised cereal feed in a trough had granules in it. Six cows were affected.
- In a misuse incident (appendix 2, number 16), the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) found four dead calves, one in a farmyard and three in a barn, when inspecting a farm.
- In an unspecified use incident (appendix 4, number 1), a horse became ill three days after a neighbouring field of carrots was sprayed with a fungicide and pyrethroid treatment.
Others
There were 13 incidents with other animals in this category (see table 12 on page 21 for details). The cause of death was found in five incidents, and two were due to pesticide poisoning.
Honeybees
In 2006, there were 15 suspected poisonings of beneficial insects (see table 16, on page 23), with 10 incidents reported in England, one in Wales and four reported in Scotland. An incident with bumblebees occurred in Scotland and all the other incidents investigated involved honeybees. There were two incidents of pesticide poisoning, both in England. One involved cypermethrin (appendix 4, number 10). The other involved the misuse of bendiocarb (appendix 2, number 4).
- A beekeeper in Hampshire noted that 40 to 50 bees were crawling on the ground outside a hive in his garden. The honeybees appeared to crawl away from the hive and some had their proboscis extended. They usually died a day after these symptoms and these deaths continued over two weeks, with a maximum of 60 to 70 dead honeybees on one day. Two days prior to the incident a bee inspector had assessed the hives for foul brood and found them to be healthy. Therefore, these deaths were considered suspicious and a sample of bees was collected over several days. The bees were foraging on trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants and there was barley stubble in the field beside the apiary. The honeybees in a nearby apiary were not affected. The beekeeper was not aware of any crops or flowers being sprayed in the area. The analytical investigations have confirmed a residue of 0.0059 micrograms cypermethrin per bee, so it is considered likely that these bees died from pesticide poisoning. This incident has been assigned to unspecified use, as it is uncertain how and where the honeybees were exposed to the cypermethrin.
- A lot of bees from two colonies died when a nearby colony of wild bees was treated with a white powder. A significant amount of bendiocarb was found in a sample of bees, so they have died of pesticide poisoning. It appears that bees have robbed from a bee colony in the wild that had not been blocked up after treatment.
For the incidents investigated and the percentage of pesticide poisonings for the past 10 years, see table 17 on page 23.For reviews and articles on bee poisoning incidents see the list of major scheme publications produced since 1976, references 1, 2, 10, 12 and 19.
No pyrethroid spray applications were confirmed as the source for bee poisoning incidents in 2006. There was a pyrethroid incident but the source of the cypermethrin was never found.
Suspected Poisoned Baits and Suspicious Samples
Each year a number of suspected baits and suspicious samples are investigated, even though no dead animals have been found. There were 41 such incidents in 2006 and pesticides were found in 16 (39%) of these. Table 19 on page 24 shows the number of possible baits and suspicious samples analysed, and the percentage in which pesticides were found, for the past 10 years. There were nine incidents of abuse and eight incidents of misuse. Some of the baits were indiscriminate attempts to control pests. Badger setts and a fox earth (see also section on badgers and foxes) were involved in some of these incidents.
- A badger sett was involved in a misuse incident (appendix 2, number 3). The badger sett was blocked and gassed and involved the chemical aluminium phosphide.
- Two misuse incidents involved bromadiolone. In one of these incidents (appendix 2, number 6) rodenticide bait blocks were allegedly thrown onto a railway embankment and were not protected.
- In one misuse incident (appendix 2, number 14) involving the chemicals difenacoum and flocoumafen, unprotected rodenticide bait was left in an area that was open to the public in a well-used tourist attraction that is particularly aimed at families with children.
- A thin scattering of blue pellets was seen on a cycle track. Three small piles of pellets were also seen on a nearby bridleway. The chemical metaldehyde was involved in this misuse incident (appendix 2, number 21).
A range of chemicals was found in the abuse incidents.
- There were two abuse incidents involving badger setts; the chemical metaldehyde was involved in both incidents. In one of the incidents (appendix 3, number 59), a badger sett had been blocked with cattle afterbirth and slug pellets. In the other incident (appendix 3, number 60), potatoes stuffed with slug pellets were found near a badger sett.
- One rabbit carcase containing black granules was found under a bush. There was also another rabbit carcase and two red-legged partridge carcases. Aldicarb was confirmed in the carcases. This is an abuse case (appendix 3, number 1).
- A pheasant carcase was recovered that was confirmed to have been used to form poisonous bait. Carbofuran was involved in this abuse case (appendix 3, number 37).
- In another abuse incident, residues of carbofuran and carbosulfan were found on several pheasant carcases (appendix 3, number 55).
Pesticides
The chemicals found in the 109 vertebrate and bait incidents are listed in table 4 on pages 13 to 14. Details of these incidents are also given in the appendices 1 to 4. The pesticides involved in the incidents affecting honeybees can also be found in table 4 on pages 13 to 14 and in appendices 2 (incident number 4) and 4 (incident number 10).
In 2006, 40 different chemicals were thought to be involved in incidents compared with 35 in 2005. There were 37 different chemicals from England (32 in 2005), 15 from Scotland (10 in 2005), three from Wales (five in 2005) and three from Northern Ireland (five in 2005). Table 20 on page 24 shows the number of different pesticides involved in all incidents (except incidents relating to beneficial insects) for the past 10 years.
Other Causes of Death
There were 72 incidents where the cause of death of vertebrates was caused by something other than pesticide poisoning. This represents 18.5% of these incidents. In 2005, there were 86 incidents (23% of all incidents). The bodies of animals that die from disease, starvation or trauma are not usually sent for analysis. However, it is possible that a sub-lethal dose of a pesticide contributed to their death. It is not possible for the scheme to monitor the effects of these doses, but if pesticides are strongly suspected in an incident, tissues may be sent for analysis.