Pet owners seek pesticide-free flea treatments amid concerns for songbirds

theguardian.com February 4, 2025, 08:00 PM UTC

Pet owners are concerned about the impact of flea treatments on songbirds. A recent article revealed that pet fur in songbird nests contains harmful pesticides from these treatments. Many pet owners, like Karoline Kuprat, are seeking pesticide-free alternatives. Kuprat expressed disappointment after her vet could not recommend non-pesticide options. She felt dismissed and has since turned to herbal remedies for her pets. This highlights a gap in veterinary support for pet owners looking to protect wildlife. Roy Smith emphasized the broader ecological effects of these pesticides, noting their potential harm to various invertebrate species in bird nests. He called for veterinarians to educate pet owners on responsible pesticide use to help preserve biodiversity.


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