Rodent control impact on non-target species
Case reference FOI2026/01216
Received 9 June 2026
Published 8 July 2026
Request
I am writing under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) and, to the extent applicable, the Freedom of Information Act 2000, to request the following information.
I request all records you hold relating to the known injury or death of animals that are not rats or mice that have occurred or are suspected to have occurred as a result of rodent control operations. This means operations that were commissioned, administered, or delivered by the council, whether through in-house pest control staff or by external contractors engaged by the council.
My request includes casualties resulting from any lethal or live-capture rodent control method where non-target mortality occurred, including but not limited to:
- Anticoagulant or acute rodenticide use (such as suspected secondary poisoning of raptors, hedgehogs, mustelids, or other wildlife)
- Spring or kill traps (Fenn traps, tunnel traps, or similar)
- Glue boards or adhesive traps
- Any other method
I am requesting all records held, as far back as they are available in a readily accessible format. If full compliance would exceed the cost limit, please prioritise the most recent records available and advise me of the earliest year that falls within the limit. This request covers both confirmed casualties and cases where a causal link to rodent control was suspected but not formally established, for example where an animal was found dead in or near bait stations, traps or treatment areas.
For the avoidance of doubt, the council is requested to consider whether any relevant information is held by contractors or agents on its behalf and is therefore subject to disclosure under Regulation 3(2) of the EIR.
For each recorded incident or casualty, can you provide where held:
1. Species, or best identification available (e.g. "unidentified raptor")
2. Number of animals affected
3. Outcome (killed/injured/released alive)
4. Date or approximate date
5. Control method responsible
6. General location or site type (e.g. housing estate, council depot, public park)
7. Whether the operation was in-house or contracted out, and if the latter, the contractor's name
I also request where available:
- Any summary or aggregate reports relating to non-target casualties in the council's rodent control programme
- Any contractual provisions, standing instructions, or service specifications requiring pest control contractors to report non-target casualties to the council
Response
Thank you for your request for information under the Environmental Information Regulations Act 2004 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Please find the answers to your queries below:
I am writing under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) and, to the extent applicable, the Freedom of Information Act 2000, to request the following information.
I request all records you hold relating to the known injury or death of animals that are not rats or mice that have occurred or are suspected to have occurred as a result of rodent control operations. This means operations that were commissioned, administered, or delivered by the council, whether through in-house pest control staff or by external contractors engaged by the council.
My request includes casualties resulting from any lethal or live-capture rodent control method where non-target mortality occurred, including but not limited to:
- Anticoagulant or acute rodenticide use (such as suspected secondary poisoning of raptors, hedgehogs, mustelids, or other wildlife)
- Spring or kill traps (Fenn traps, tunnel traps, or similar)
- Glue boards or adhesive traps
- Any other method
I am requesting all records held, as far back as they are available in a readily accessible format. If full compliance would exceed the cost limit, please prioritise the most recent records available and advise me of the earliest year that falls within the limit. This request covers both confirmed casualties and cases where a causal link to rodent control was suspected but not formally established, for example where an animal was found dead in or near bait stations, traps or treatment areas.
For the avoidance of doubt, the council is requested to consider whether any relevant information is held by contractors or agents on its behalf and is therefore subject to disclosure under Regulation 3(2) of the EIR.
For each recorded incident or casualty, can you provide where held:
1. Species, or best identification available (e.g. "unidentified raptor")
2. Number of animals affected
3. Outcome (killed/injured/released alive)
4. Date or approximate date
5. Control method responsible
6. General location or site type (e.g. housing estate, council depot, public park)
7. Whether the operation was in-house or contracted out, and if the latter, the contractor's name
I also request where available:
- Any summary or aggregate reports relating to non-target casualties in the council's rodent control programme
- Any contractual provisions, standing instructions, or service specifications requiring pest control contractors to report non-target casualties to the council
Rodent pest control is handled via third party contractors who have confirmed that they do not hold records for this data and we have never received any reports from them of deaths or injuries other than to rodents (rats and mice). Therefore, we do not hold information in relation to this request.
Yours sincerely,
FOI Team
Guildford Borough Council
Documents
This is Guildford Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
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