Pesticide usage in Scotland: Rodenticide use by Local Authorities 2023

Covid-19 impact

In response to widespread suggestion that rodent populations and/or rodent problems increased during and after the Covid-19 pandemic⁽⁹⁾, LAs were asked "Do you consider that rodent infestation has increased in public areas following the COVID pandemic?". Of 26 responding LAs, 18 (69%) said that there had been an increase. Some LAs suggested that this was due to the closure of food related businesses that had previously sustained rodents, causing rodents to move into residential locations. Others suggested it may be due to people being at home more and noticing rodents. One LA noted an increase in rodent activity at the beginning of the pandemic but said that this had now returned to normal. Issues with bin collection timings were also raised by a contractor working for some LAs, although it is not clear that these are exclusively pandemic related.