Raptors face specific welfare threats including poisoning from lead ammunition and rodenticides, persecution, collision with infrastructure, and illegal trafficking for falconry.
Raptor welfare is threatened by a combination of direct persecution, secondary poisoning, and infrastructure mortality. Lead poisoning from ammunition fragments causes a slow and painful neurological death in eagles and other scavenging raptors. Intentional poisoning of raptors to protect game birds causes suffering and death in species including red kites, white-tailed eagles, and hen harriers. Wind turbine collision risk can be significantly reduced through turbine siting assessment and automatic shutdown systems triggered by approaching birds. The welfare improvements available are primarily regulatory and enforcement-based.