Red Kite Welfare and Illegal Poisoning

Red kites, one of Britain's most successful conservation stories, continue to be illegally poisoned, particularly on and around grouse moor estates.

Key Facts

Red kites were reintroduced to England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland from 1989 onwards
They are now widespread in parts of England and Wales but poisoning remains a threat
Rodenticides, carbofuran, and alphachloralose poisoning are documented causes of death
Carbofuran was banned in the EU in 2008 but illegal stockpiles continue to be used
Secondary poisoning from rodenticide-contaminated prey is a significant emerging threat

Welfare Considerations

Red kites poisoned with carbofuran or alphachloralose experience acute seizures, muscle paralysis, and respiratory failure in a prolonged and painful death. Secondary rodenticide poisoning causes progressive internal bleeding over days to weeks. Poisoning events often kill multiple individuals including other species at the same baiting site. Kites with sub-lethal poisoning exposure show immune suppression, behavioural abnormalities, and reduced breeding success. The recovery of the species makes ongoing illegal poisoning particularly damaging to conservation outcomes and represents preventable suffering.

What You Can Do

Report suspected illegal wildlife poisoning to police or RSPB Investigations
Support RSPB campaigns for poisoning incident prosecution
Donate to raptor welfare and monitoring programs
Use wildlife-safe rodent control methods on farms and gardens
Advocate for mandatory reporting of raptor corpses found on managed land