What are the inadvertent impacts of pets' flea treatment on wildlife?

CHEMICALS in pet flea treatments are causing “severe and potentially irreversible harm” to wildlife - and urgent action must be taken to curb their use, an expert has warned.

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Common flea treatments are having an impact on insects and wildlife

An assessment by ecologist Matt Shardlow, who first raised the alarm over flea treatment pollution of rivers in 2017, warns the toxic chemicals are widespread in rivers, estuaries and lakes.

His review said the chemicals - banned from use as commercial pesticides - are highly toxic to aquatic life, and are likely to be hitting bird populations that rely on insects for food as well as reducing pollinators such as bees in public parks.

Mr Shardlow, founding chief executive of wildlife charity Buglife, said: “Across Britain, our rivers, public parks, National Parks and most special wildlife sites are being damaged, potentially irreparably, by exceedingly high levels of toxic insect nerve agents.”

He pointed to the Norfolk Broads, where all the main rivers entering the park are “heavily contaminated” with flea treatment toxins, and there are concerns about a 90% decline in dragonfly numbers on the Bure Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).