We cannot see pathogens. But we can stop them spreading.
Boots, nets and containers can retain water, mud and organic matter. If this material reaches another site, you can inadvertently become a vector for pathogen transmission.
Biosecurity is not a single step: it shapes how the entire field visit is planned and carried out.
01Pathogens remain in mud or water.02Equipment carries them unseen.03Cleaning and disinfection break the chain.✓
1
site
One clean, separate set of equipment.1
animal
One fresh pair of disposable gloves.0
transfers
No animal is moved between populations.
02
A clean field visit, step by step
Five stages. The same care throughout.
Select each stage. The sequence begins before departure, is repeated between sites and ends only when all equipment is once again clean, disinfected and ready for the next field visit.
Before departure · preparation
Choose equipment you can clean thoroughly.
Take an approved disinfectant, a brush, clean water, a spray bottle and sealable bags. If you visit a site regularly, keep a dedicated set of equipment for it.
Prepare the solution according to the product label and working protocol.
Never mix products or release disinfectant into the environment.
Keep clean and used equipment separate from the outset.
Boots, nets, sampling sleeves, forceps and containers must be clean when they enter the study site. Apply disinfectant over the entire surface of each item and observe the specified contact time.
Rinse with clean water if required by the product.
Make sure no residue can reach animals or water.
Keep clean equipment protected until it is needed.
After sampling · cleaning
Remove mud and organic matter first. Then isolate used equipment.
Before leaving the site, remove all mud, leaves and other organic matter. Dirt reduces the effectiveness of many disinfectants and can shield pathogens.
Brush boots and equipment away from the water.
Place all used equipment in a large, tightly sealed bag.
Do not mix used equipment with anything that remains clean.
Between sites · biosecurity barrier
Treat every new site as a fresh start.
If you visit several sites in one field visit, repeat the full sequence: remove organic matter, then apply disinfectant for the required contact time.
Prepare the spray bottle before leaving.
Clean equipment when you finish at each site.
Spray every surface and place the equipment in a sealed bag.
Where possible, use a separate set of equipment for each site.
On returning · completing the cycle
A field visit ends only when the equipment is clean again.
At home, clean and disinfect the equipment again before storing it. Follow the product label, rinse if required and allow everything to dry completely.
Dispose of disposable gloves and single-use bags safely.
Check folds, soles and joins where mud may remain.
Store the equipment dry and ready for the next field visit.
03
Four essential rules
Sometimes protecting wildlife means leaving it alone.
01 · Only when necessary
Handle animals only when absolutely necessary.
If you must, use a fresh pair of disposable gloves.
Avoid touching animals. If authorised work requires handling, use a new pair of gloves for every animal and replace any equipment that has been in direct contact with it.
02 · Keep each population where it belongs
Do not move animals between sites.
Leave them exactly where you found them.
Never move adults, larvae or spawn between ponds or populations, even if another site appears more suitable. Moving a single animal can also move the pathogens it carries.
03 · No unauthorised releases
Never release animals into the wild without permission.
This includes captive animals and animals from another area.
Never release a captive animal, a non-native species or an individual from another population into the wild. Besides the ecological impact, this can introduce new pathogens.
04 · Keep movement in water to a minimum
Stay out of the water unless you need to enter.
Keep pets out too.
Observe from the shore whenever possible. Your boots—and a dog’s paws and coat—can carry water, mud and organisms from one waterbody to another.
Before you close your pack
Ready for biosecure fieldwork?
Review the checklist. If you are visiting several sites, take multiple sets of equipment or be prepared to establish a complete biosecurity barrier between sites.
