Responsible Pest Control

There is an ongoing conversation in the Sedgefield Island Conservancy about the use of pesticides to control the things we classify as ‘pests’, i.e. rats, mice, weeds, and our least favourite, ants.

We are often asked: why we shouldn’t use poisons and, if we don’t use them, which alternatives will work!

An adult owl can eat hundreds of rodents in a year. A single poisoned rat can kill an owl. Using poisons that kill the predators makes no sense.

Spraying against caterpillars on a fruit tree will also kill the butterflies, bees and other pollinators that keep your trees bearing fruit. Using poisons that kill the beneficial insects makes no sense.

Weed killers kill the food sources of tortoises and leave a toxic load in terrestrial insects, plants, the water and the soil. Using poisons that eradicate our tortoises and birds makes no sense.

Chemical poisons are effective but non-specific, killing or affecting many other species.

Solutions that work depend on the organism and species. In summary, the following:

A Google search identifies dozens of pest control companies, (almost) none of whom profess to be environmentally friendly. Using a company that doesn’t even claim ‘green’ credentials is exposing yourself and the Island’s environment to dangerous chemicals. They may well tell you that their chemicals “don’t harm pets/fish/birds”—take that claim with a large pinch of salt and ask for proof.

Then there are the pest control companies with environmentally friendly claims. I found just one around Sedgefield in what was, admittedly, a quick search. They make the claim that their services are ‘eco-sensitive’, while admitting that there are problems for which they have no eco-friendly solutions. However, they offer a 1-year guarantee, thereby limiting their options. They also use anti-coagulant rat poison, the difference being that their chemical biodegrades more quickly than the standard chemicals and is used in lower doses.

The bottom line: commercial pest control is not an approach that we can recommend or even condone on The Island.

We have given a few answers to the pest problem—why we don't want to use poisons and what we can do as alternatives. We have seen that Rodenticides and herbicides may seem like quick fixes, but their impact on urban wildlife is profound and far-reaching. Differentiating good, professional pest control companies from the companies that are careless about the environment.

By embracing humane traps, eco-friendly alternatives, and a greater appreciation for the ecological roles of rodents, ants and weeds, we can create a future where pest control is both effective and sustainable. Together, we can protect the delicate balance of urban ecosystems and ensure that species like the angulate tortoise, spotted thick-knee, helmeted guinea fowl, and all the countless others forms of wildlife on The Island continue to thrive.