Today is World Pest Day and to celebrate we’re launching a targeted campaign to local authorities.

We’re urging councils across the UK to put pest management firmly on their radar, highlighting the threat to society and the knock-on effect to public health that can be caused by infestations.

Ahead of World Pest (6 June), BPCA sent a Pest Management Toolkit to local authorities, featuring a wealth of information of relevance to the sector.

In the kit

Included in the toolkit is the BPCA’s A to Z of Pests; a reference for identifying pest species, which the Association encourages local authorities to use and link to from their websites.

A House of Pests animation, highlighting the key public health, social and economic impacts that can be caused by a variety of different species is also included.

Most importantly, councils are being encouraged to use the Find a pest controller tool. This is the only search engine that shows only pest management companies with the correct insurances, fully qualified technicians and who have been audited to the European standard in pest management.

Pest issues for World Pest Day

Dee Ward-Thompson, BPCA’s Technical Manager, said: “Local authorities have a key role to play in effective pest management.

“Sometimes the matter can be overlooked, but pest problems can significantly impact on major areas including public health, reputation and the environment.

“However, local authorities are perfectly placed to raise awareness of the challenges faced and to communicate the vital message of protecting public health across the UK.

“In particular, local governments can contribute by recommending qualified, trusted and audited pest management companies working to the industry codes of best practice.”

The importance of effective pest management is reflected in light of a recent report, which has revealed the presence of a new generation of rats carrying a genetic mutation, making them resistant to some conventional poisons.

A study by the University of Reading, commissioned by the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU), has identified "the massive extent of L120Q resistance across the whole of central southern England”.

It also reports that rats without the genetic mutation are being killed off by poison, so the resistant species are taking their place, leaving a growing population of resistant purebreds.

With their numbers expanding, there could be a significant risk to public health if their population is left unchecked, in both urban and rural environments.

Reports from members suggest that climate change is having an impact on the numbers of rodent infestations throughout the year.

As a result, BPCA suggests that rodents must be dealt with by those with the skills required to understand their behaviour and their habitat, and who know how to treat any particular strain.

Dee added:

“Local authorities should be aware of the situation and have the knowledge in place, so they offer the right approach to take to tackle the issue.

“Factors such as rodenticide resistance highlight why pest control needs to be taken seriously and we hope this campaign to mark World Pest Day will go some way to rising awareness of the issue.”

World Pest Day

World pest day aims to:

• Increase public, government, and media awareness of the important role pest management organizations plays in protecting public health
• Project the professional image of the pest management industry
• Promote the use of professional pest management in a scientific and socially responsible way
• Call attention to the big threats caused by small pests.

World Pest Day was initiated in 2017 by the Chinese Pest Control Association, and is co-sponsored by the Federation of Asian and Oceania Pest Managers' Association (FAOPMA), the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), and the Confederation of European Pest Management Associations (CEPA).  

Get involved

World Pest Day 2019 is all about education.

Encourage your local authority to recommend appropriate pest management companies. Write to your local paper. Share a new pest awareness blog.

Help spread the message and spend some time educating someone about public health pest management today. Let us know what you did!

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Source: Online