A recent edition of Farming Today on Radio 4 discussed the increasing problem of controlling rats on farms. The new Wildlife Aware training course also received good coverage.
Introducing the story onFarming Today , the interviewer stated that rats are estimated to be increasing at 15% a year. Richard Bound, a livestock farmer from Handley Castle near Worcester detailed the problems caused by rats and mice moving indoors on his farm during the winter. He went on to explain how he carefully baits with rodenticides, ensuring all baits are covered and well protected.
| Representing the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU), Jonathan Peck said the build-up in rat numbers was nothing short of a time-bomb. Resistance was developing to the second generation anti-coagulant rodenticides. If nothing is done we will be over-run with rats.
Jonathan explained that although farmers and pest control operators may have attended courses on rodent control before, the recently launched Wildlife Aware courses had been designed to add an extra level of environmental awareness. The courses detais how to prevent any risk of secondary poisoning, so as to minimise affects on animals and predatory birds. |
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To listen to the interview click here – it begins 3 minutes 40 seconds into the programme and lasts about four minutes. Note: this will be available only until Monday 25 January. The first CRRU Wildlife Aware course takes place on Wednesday 10 February at Killgerm Training, Ossett, West Yorkshire. The one-day course offers an easy-to-follow code of practice for responsible and effective rodent pest control, and an update on essential knowledge and recent developments. Course places can be booked with BASIS – click here or with Killgerm Training – click here. Click here for a copy of the Wildlife Aware syllabus. At the end of the training delegates can choose to take an exam which will be marked by BASIS. Those who pass will be entitled to use the new Wildlife Aware logo to signify their competence in combining effective control of rodents whilst minimising the exposure of non-target animals’ to rodenticides. The activities of CRRU are managed and funded by the following group of companies: Syngenta Professional Pest Management, Rentokil Initial, PelGar International, Novartis Animal Health, Killgerm Group, Bell Laboratories, BASF Pest Control Solutions. |
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