Reducing harm to wildlife from rodent pest control strategies

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BackgroundCurrent strategies to control rodent pests have substantial environmental impact, relying on baits that are highly toxic to vertebrates and attract non-target species such as wood mice, bank voles and field voles. High persistence of these toxins and bioaccumulation then leads to widespread secondary poisoning of avian and mammalian predators and scavengers1. For example, anticoagulant rodenticide residues have been reported in 95% of barn owls2, 70% of red kites, 67% of hedgehogs3 and 79% of polecats4 in the UK.ObjectivesThis project will focus on ways to reduce the exposure of non-target species to harmful control measures aimed at rodent pests. Key objectives will be to- Improve understanding of the interactions between non-target species and invasive rodent control strategies, and the impacts on non-target species.- Develop new approaches to mitigate the impact of rodent control on non-target animals.- Demonstrate the effectiveness of new approaches in real world situations through field testing and monitoring.The student will have opportunities to carry out behavioural investigations to understand non-target exposure and establish potential avenues for mitigation; to develop and test promising approaches to reduce exposure under natural and semi-natural conditions; and to monitor and/or model effectiveness in natural populations.Novelty & TimelinessThe project addresses an urgent need to reduce the costs of rodent control for wildlife in the face of increasing problems due to anthropogenic change. Reliance on highly toxic anticoagulant rodenticides persists, despite widespread contamination of the natural environment, because of the need for effective control of highly invasive rodents. The project will build on some promising research in the host laboratory that could help reduce the harmful costs to wildlife.1 Elliott JE et al. (2016) Bioscience 66:401-72 https://pbms.ceh.ac.uk3 Dowdling et al (2010) Environmental Pollution 158:161-64 Sainsbury et al (2018) Environmental Pollution I236:689-98