Research shows that over 85% of dog owners used a flea-treatment in the last year. Of these, 36% claimed to let their dog to swim in rivers or streams at least once a month. While we know these treatments end up in water, we don’t know how much further they travel and where they can end up.
Building on the findings of the birds and pesticides project, SongBird Survival is continuing to collaborate the relationship with the University of Sussex by funding the 'Do Veterinary drugs harm nesting tits?' project.
In January 2024 Dr Cannelle Tassin de Montaigu began a 2-year postdoctoral research project, to explore the impact of spot-on flea treatments could have an impact on the breeding and survival of nesting tits.
Many species of songbird use dog, cat and livestock hair in their nests, often as cushioning before laying eggs. This project hypothesises pesticide treated pet and livestock hair could be present within nests, potentially affecting eggs and chicks.
Research goals:
Using several sites in the South of England, this study will:
Professor Goulson studies the ecology, behavior and conservation of bumblebees, with an interested in pollinators and pollination more generally, and particularly in the sustainable management of pollinators in agro-ecosystems. .
“Like a lot of children, I wanted to be a vet. But, one day, I saw a documentary about Jane Goodall and her relationship with wild chimpanzees, it completely changed my perspective on nature."
Perkins, R., Goulson, D. (2023) To flea or not to flea: survey of UK companion animal ectoparasiticide usage and activities affecting pathways to the environment. PeerJ. 11, 15561, 10.7717/peerj.15561
Perkins, R, Whitehead, M, Civil, W., Goulson, D. (2021) Potential role of veterinary flea products in widespread pesticide contamination of English rivers. Science of the Total Environment. 755: 143560
Wells, C., Collins, C.M. (2022) A rapid evidence assessment of the potential risk to the environment presented by active ingredients in the UK’s most commonly sold companion animal parasiticides. Environmenta Science and Pollution Research. 29: 45070-45088.
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