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Many pests have only become a problem because of the direct actions
of humans. Modifying these actions can often substantially reduce the
pest problem. In the USA, raccoons caused a nuisance by tearing open
refuse sacks. Many householders introduced bins with locking lids, which
deterred the raccoons from visiting. House flies tend to accumulate
wherever there is human activity and is virtually a global phenomenon,
especially where food or food waste is exposed. Similarly, seagulls have
become a pest at many seaside resorts. Tourists would often feed the
birds with scraps of fish and chips, and before long, the birds would
become dependent on this food source and act aggressively towards
humans. In the UK, following concern about animal welfare, humane pest
control and deterrence is gaining ground through the use of animal
psychology rather than destruction. For instance, with the urban Red Fox
which territorial behavior is used against the animal, usually in
conjunction with non-injurious chemical repellents.
Chemical pest control dates back 4,500 years, when the Sumerians used
sulfur compounds as insecticides. The Rig Veda, which is about 4,000
years old, also mentions the use of poisonous plants for pest control.
And the ancient Chinese and Egyptians are also known to have used
chemical pest control. But it was only with the industrialization and
mechanization of agriculture in the 18th and 19th century, and the
introduction of the insecticides pyrethrum and derris that chemical pest
control became the method of choice. In the 20th century, the discovery
of several synthetic insecticides, such as DDT, and herbicides boosted
this development. Chemical pest control is still the predominant type of
pest control today, although its long-term effects led to a renewed
interest in traditional and
biological pest controll towards the end of the 20th century. |
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