Pesticide usage in Scotland: Rodenticide use by Local Authorities 2023

Survey Sample

All 32 local authorities (LAs) in Scotland were contacted and asked to supply data relating to their rodenticide use during 2023. Twenty seven LAs (84%) responded to this voluntary survey (Figure 1). These LAs collectively represented 91% of the Scottish population (Table 5, Appendix 2).

In addition to collecting rodenticide use data, LA representatives were asked to respond to a series of supplementary questions. These questions related to their operatives' compliance with best practice in relation to rodenticide use, their use of non-chemical control methods and their experience of rodenticide resistance. Twenty six LAs returned these data, representing 81% of those contacted and 84% of the Scottish population (Figure 1, Table 5). Some LAs only provided usage data and others only provided supplementary data. Reasons, if given, were related to time constraints and/or the ability to easily access the requested data. Some LAs kept records on individual sites and treatments, but they may not be stored in a format enabling easy summarisation.

LAs were not specifically asked whether they undertook rodent control operations in-house using their own staff, or if they contracted out. However, some did volunteer this information either by asking us to contact the contractor directly, involving the contractor in the response, or by mentioning that the data was supplied or held by a contractor. Of the 27 responding LAs, nine of them are known to have used a contractor for rodent control services. At least one of these used a combination of contractor and council staff. One contractor indicated that they had done work for another LA but no information was received from that LA. It is possible that some of the remaining LAs also used a contractor but did not indicate this when providing their data.

Of the five LAs who provided no rodenticide data, one indicated that they had used an external contractor. However, the contractor was unable to provide a response due to delays in the request being passed on.

Comparative data for use of external contractors during the 2015 survey period are not available.

It should be noted that the information presented in this report only represents the data collected and, unlike previous UK surveys⁽⁴⁾, does not attempt to estimate total Scottish rodenticide use by LAs (refer to methodology section). It should also be noted that LA use of rodenticides does not represent all rodenticide use in non-agricultural settings. Baiting in industrial, domestic and sewer settings which is not conducted by, or on behalf of, Scottish LAs is not captured by this survey.

Figure 1 Scottish LAs supplying data for 2023

The map on the left represents data on rodenticide usage. The map on the right represents availability of supplementary data. Both maps show an outline of Scotland with LAs marked in blue if they provided data returns. White LAs represent those that did not provide data.