Barn owls and tawny owls in urban and suburban areas face specific welfare challenges from rodenticide poisoning, vehicle collisions, and loss of nesting sites.
Barn owls are acutely vulnerable to rodenticide poisoning through secondary exposure. SGARs accumulate in field mice and voles, which barn owls eat in large numbers. Anticoagulant poisoning causes internal hemorrhage and a slow, painful death. Even sub-lethal doses impair survival, flight performance, and immune function. Vehicle collisions typically occur when owls hunting along roadside verges are struck. Loss of traditional nest sites including old barns and hollow trees reduces breeding opportunities. Urban tawny owls face additional threats from domestic cats. Nest box programs have been shown to significantly increase breeding density where food is available.