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Sniffer dogs to sniff out garden pests
20 May
Summary
- Dogs are now detecting plant diseases and pests in Britain.
- Phytophthora ramorum and bark beetles are key threats.
- This initiative speeds up woodland surveying and timber checks.
An innovative initiative is underway in Britain to safeguard gardens, landscapes, and the forestry sector from devastating plant diseases and pests. Government agencies have partnered with specialist canine detection firm Cape-SPC to deploy sniffer dogs capable of identifying specific threats.
Among the primary targets is Phytophthora ramorum, a destructive organism that affects over 150 plant species, including commercially important larch trees. Additionally, dogs are being trained to detect the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle, a pest of concern for spruce trees that has recently appeared in England.
This collaboration, involving agencies like Forest Research and the Animal and Plant Health Agency, has shown proof of concept. Officials believe these canine detectors can significantly speed up woodland surveying and timber inspection processes, offering a more efficient method for early detection and prevention of pest and disease spread.
Professor Nicola Spence, the Environment Department's chief plant health officer, highlighted the potential for environmental detection, especially for pests like the spruce beetle that are not easily visible. She noted that dogs can indicate infested trees, allowing for targeted follow-up testing and quicker response to potential outbreaks.
