Wildlife

Rodenticide Poisoning of Wildlife

How anticoagulant rodenticides used in pest control poison raptors, owls, foxes, and other wildlife through secondary exposure.

Key Facts

Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) persist in rodent tissue and accumulate up the food chain
Studies show 75-90% of barn owls and red kites tested in the UK carry rodenticide residues
Secondary poisoning causes internal bleeding, hemorrhage, and prolonged painful death
Many countries have restricted SGARs but enforcement and alternatives are inadequate
Integrated Pest Management approaches can control rodents with significantly lower wildlife impact

Welfare Considerations

Secondary rodenticide poisoning causes one of the most painful deaths in wildlife - animals bleed internally, become progressively unable to move, and die over days or weeks. Raptors, owls, and predatory mammals that eat poisoned rodents are particularly vulnerable. Given that many affected species are already under pressure from habitat loss, rodenticide poisoning represents an additional and preventable cause of suffering and population decline.

What You Can Do

Use snap traps, live traps, or exclusion methods rather than rodenticides
If you must use rodenticides, choose first-generation products with less secondary risk
Dispose of dead rodents to prevent scavenging
Report poisoned wildlife to local wildlife authorities
Support policies restricting SGARs in agricultural settings