Could a common act of care like flea and tick treatments be polluting rivers and  killing songbird chicks

Could a common act of care like flea and tick treatments be killing songbird chicks

According to the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), 51% of UK adults own a pet and I'm sure most pet owners love their furry friends and would go to great lengths to care for them. But could a common act of care like flea and tick treatments be harming our waters and even killing songbird chicks?

Banned chemicals in flea and tick treatments present in 66% and 99% of English rivers

It's been reported that two widely used chemicals in pet parasiticides (imidacloprid - a neonicotinoid and fipronil ) were present in 66% and 99% of samples from 20 English rivers between 2016 and 2018. This is in spite of the fact that both chemicals were banned for outdoor agricultural use in 2018 due to their harmful effects on pollinators like bees.

Banned chemicals in flea and tick treatments present in 100% of songbird nests.

A recent study also revealed that songbird chicks are being harmed by high levels of these chemicals found in pet fur used by parent birds to line their nests. The researchers from the University of Sussex examined 103 blue and great tit nests lined with pet fur and found that 100% contained fipronil, while 89% contained imidacloprid. Additionally, they detected 17 out of 20 insecticides they were testing for, raising concerns about the widespread contamination of bird nests.

20 million pet dogs and cats in the UK

Seeing that there are over 20 million pet dogs and cats in the UK alone (as of 2024) and 138 UK-approved pet parasiticides containing imidacloprid and 396 containing fipronil , It is fair to expect this issue to continue to gain more attention.

 What you can do to help

• Only apply flea treatments to pets when necessary, rather than as a routine preventive measure.

• Use non-chemical flea control treatments such as these on Amazon and other methods, such as regular grooming, vacuuming, and washing pet bedding frequently.

• Ensuring proper disposal of leftover products to prevent contamination

• Avoid leaving pet fur outside where birds might collect it for nesting. Instead, dispose of it in household waste bins.

• Brush pets indoors or in controlled areas to prevent loose fur from contaminating the environment.

• Use natural alternatives for controlling pests in gardens, such as introducing beneficial insects (e.g., ladybirds for aphids).

• Never pour leftover flea treatments, pesticides, or household chemicals down the drain, as they can end up in waterways.

• Take expired or unused chemicals to designated hazardous waste disposal sites.

• Spread the word