Trained Dogs Help Protect UK Forests from Deadly Tree Disease

The UK has successfully trained a detection dog to identify harmful tree pathogens. This marks the first time a dog has been used in the UK for such a purpose, with promising results for forest Conservation efforts.

Ivor, a six-year-old cocker spaniel-labrador mix, has been trained by researchers from Forest Research to sniff out Phytophthora ramorum, a destructive pathogen responsible for the death of numerous trees and shrubs across the UK. During trials, Ivor demonstrated an impressive 89% accuracy in detecting the disease on the first attempt. This pathogen, spread by rain, has already led to the felling of thousands of hectares of forest.

“This groundbreaking research using detection dogs to identify Phytophthora ramorum, alongside other innovative approaches to tackle pests and diseases, will play a key role in maintaining biosecurity,” said Prof Nicola Spence, the UK’s chief plant health officer.

Ivor was trained to identify the pathogen’s scent in various materials, including soil and plant matter, and could even differentiate it from similar species. The success of this project highlights the potential for detection dogs to be used more widely in managing forest biosecurity. Dr. Heather Dun, a Forest Research pathologist, described the results as “incredibly encouraging.”

Detection dogs are not new to pest control. In 2012, sniffer dogs in Kent were used to locate Asian longhorn beetles. Inspired by these successes, researchers plan to expand the program, including trials to detect the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle, another forest threat.

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