WIIS Quarterly Reports
Latest WIIS report (amended quarterly)
Since 2008 the results of all incidents have been published in an Excel format which we will normally update quarterly in January, April, July and October. They are searchable by categories including quarter, county, species and month of incident.
Because these results of the enquiries made by the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS) are published quarterly it is possible that investigations relating to certain cases may still be ongoing and it may be necessary to limit the information published. We will publish updates to these cases as further information becomes available.
- Results for 2008-2015 These results will have no further amendments
- Results for 2007 These results will have no further amendments
- Results for 2006 These results will have no further amendments
- A summary of each year's reports can be found here.
Changes to the presentation of results
The presentation of the results from 2013 onwards has changed. To improve the accuracy of the reporting of results the tables will now identify separately the pesticides actually involved in an incident and any other pesticides found. The presentation of the results for previous years remains unchanged.
The information will be presented as follows:
Pesticide involved: An investigation into the circumstances of the case concluded that these pesticide(s) were the principle cause.
Other Pesticides found: An investigation into the circumstances of the case concluded that these pesticide(s) were involved, but were at background or trace levels only. These pesticide residues may be detected in tissue samples or bait material collected during the investigation of a case.
The categories
From 2013 information regarding the categories will also be clearer and where appropriate provide additional information as it relates to the results. For example, where the death of an animal is from a cause other than pesticide poisoning, where the other cause is known this will be reported under additional information. The categories used are:
Approved use: An investigation into the circumstances of the case concluded that the pesticide(s) involved were used in accordance with their conditions of authorisation. Where an animal is involved the cause of death has been established as pesticide poisoning.
Misuse: An investigation into the circumstances of the case concluded that the pesticide(s) involved were not used in accordance with their conditions of authorisation. The pesticides involved may have been used carelessly or accidently but there was no indication of any intention to deliberately harm wildlife or other animals. Where an animal is involved the cause of death has been established as pesticide poisoning.
Abuse: An investigation into the circumstances of the case concluded that the pesticide(s) involved had been used in breach of their authorisation conditions and that this has been done with the deliberate intent of harming or attempting to harm wildlife or other animals. Where an animal is involved the cause of death has been established as pesticide poisoning.
Unspecified: An investigation into the circumstances of the case could not establish where the pesticide may have come from and therefore if the pesticide(s) involved were used in accordance with their conditions of authorisation; if the pesticide had been misused, or whether or not there was a deliberate intention to harm wildlife or other animals. Where an animal is involved the cause of death has been established as pesticide poisoning.
Unknown: The cause of death has not been established as pesticide poisoning; an investigation into the circumstances of the case could not establish a cause of harm or death and found no evidence of the involvement of pesticides.
It is not always possible to establish that pesticides are involved in a case reported under the scheme, this may be because samples are not available for chemical analysis or because the results of analysis are inconclusive. Where a case is classified as unknown and this was due to a problem with the availability or quality of samples this will be reported under additional information.
Other cause: The cause of death has not been established as pesticide poisoning; an investigation into the circumstances of the case found no evidence of the involvement of pesticides and was able to attribute another probable cause.
Where a case is accepted into the scheme and another cause of death is identified it is less likely that samples will be sent for chemical analysis, although analysis may still be undertaken in cases where pesticides are strongly suspected. Where a case is classified as "Other cause" the cause of death will be identified as far as possible and will be reported under additional information. Other causes include trauma (road traffic accidents, shooting, etc.), disease or starvation.
Not applicable: An investigation into the circumstances of the case was not able to establish a link to pesticide use. No wildlife or other animals were involved and any suspected baits or other samples contained no detectable pesticide residues.
Veterinary use: Where it is established that veterinary products are involved in a case. These cases are not formally included in the WIIS scheme but are recorded as some actives substances in veterinary products are also found in pesticides. Cases involving veterinary products are categorised separately under the scheme and their use is not classified into abuse, misuse, approved use or unspecified use.
Species or Samples involved: The species or samples that are collected or identified as involved in the case. Samples collected and analysed under the scheme include the bodies of wildlife and animals, which may be sent for post mortem and associated tests, tissue and other samples sent for chemical analysis, and samples of baits and suspicious substances. Samples also include beneficial insects (bees) which are assessed for disease and analysed for pesticide residues. All available information, including the result of the analysis of samples, is taken into account in assigning cases to a category.
For results prior to 2013 information will continue to be present in the old format as follows:
Approved use: a pesticide is used in accordance with its conditions of authorisation
Misuse: the product has not been used according to the conditions of its authorisation, but often just carelessly or accidently, without the intention of harming animals
Abuse: a pesticide has been deliberately used in an illegal manner to poison, or to try to poison animals
Background residues: residues of pesticides found but levels are probably not indicative of lethal poisoning
Unspecified use: the cause of death was uncertain or the incident could not be classed as being in one of the other categories
Veterinary products: Incidents arising from veterinary use are not included in the scheme
Pesticide not cause of death: pesticides have been found but have not been attributed to the death of the animal.
Further information
Annual reports for 1998 to 2007 inclusive are available for download