Intentional and unintentional wildlife poisoning causes significant welfare harms to predators and scavengers across the UK and globally.
Raptors poisoned with carbofuran experience convulsions, respiratory failure, and death within minutes to hours. Lead poisoning from ingesting contaminated carcasses causes progressive neurological damage, ataxia, weight loss, and death over days to weeks. Both are painful deaths in highly sentient, socially complex birds. The illegal use of banned poisons represents deliberate welfare harm. Lead ammunition poisoning is unintentional but preventable through non-lead alternative use.