In the latest episode of Dogs with Jobs, we’re getting an update from Reid, a rodent detection dog working for Biosecurity for Scotland, who with his handler, Rachel Cripps, patrols cargo, boats and islands in Scotland to ensure that the islands, home to internationally significant seabird colonies, stay clear of rats.
In the last few months of the project, the duo have visited multiple Scottish islands, and added cargo searches on boats and in docks to the list of things they do together.
Rachel explains how Reid is developing his skills around the base rodent detection discipline and how he stays steady and fit for the job. Also what they do in the wintertime, when the weather makes island hopping impossible.
Rachel explains the plans for winter, when weather stops all island visits, and how she keeps Reid ticking over and his skills developing.
What is biosecurity?
Biosecurity is the practice of protecting places from the threats to wildlife posed by the introduction of new diseases or types of plants or animals that do not naturally occur there.
The work of Biosecurity for Scotland focuses on protecting 38 seabird islands around Scotland from invasive non-native mammalian predators, such as rats, mice, mink and stoat. These Scottish islands are remote, home to many globally important colonies of seabirds. Native seabirds, which have not evolved alongside predators and are vulnerable to invasive predators, which eat the eggs, chicks and sometimes adult birds.
Biosecurity for Scotland is a partnership of RSPB Scotland, National Trust for Scotland the Northern Lighthouse Board and NatureScot. This project is supported by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot.
Other dogs working in conservation
- Reid the bio security dog – the original interview from May 2024;
- Skye, the stoat detection dog working to keep Orkney free from predators;
- A team of five detection dogs survey the Isle of May for ground nesting storm petrels;
- Barley the conservation dog and his international projects;
- Nica, Nettle and Phoenix, the Japanese knotweed detection dogs.
Do you work your dog or dogs?
Get in touch with Kate at team@shineradio.uk with suggestions or introductions to working dogs to feature on the show – she’s always interested to hear about dogs with interesting jobs.
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