Detection dogs have been used in the UK to successfully identify tree disease helping track down the deadly tree pathogen Phytophthora ramorum.
In collaboration with the UK’s Forest Research, Canine Assisted Pest Eradication successfully trained Ivor, a cocker spaniel x labrador, aged six, to identify the highly destructive pathogen. This destructive organism can cause extensive damage and even death to more than 150 plant species including significant mortality on larch, which are important timber trees.
Ivor was trained using a variety of detection training techniques including initial scent recognition. The first round saw Ivor successfully identify Phytophthora ramorum in soil, plant material and sterile distilled water. Further training phases saw Ivor faced with a number of scenarios which helped reinforce his detection abilities by introducing new working environments. Ivor was then able to build up to distinguishing Phytophthora ramorum from the scent of other Phytophthora species often found in the same environments to ensure effectiveness in real-world scenarios.
The damage to our trees, woods and forests from pests and diseases is significant, with the rapid increase in movements of goods and people between countries and climate change increasing the risk of spread in recent years, and this is the latest government innovation in the fight to protect our nation’s trees and woodlands.
The report released today outlines the latest trial using detection dogs to identify pests and diseases. The first round saw Ivor successfully identify Phytophthora ramorum in soil, plant material and sterile distilled water.
Detection dogs have previously been to tackle the outbreak of the Asian longhorn beetle pest in Paddock Wood, Kent, in 2012, where a team of dogs from the Austrian Plant Health Inspectorate successfully helped to detect the beetle.
Following the success of the initial trials, Forest Research is now exploring the use of detection dogs to help combat other pests and diseases such as Ips typographus, also known as the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle, fulfilling commitments set out in the GB Plant Biosecurity Strategy.