Wildlife Poisoning by Rodenticides

Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides accumulate in the food chain causing secondary poisoning of owls, raptors, foxes, and other predators and scavengers.

Key Facts

Brodifacoum and bromadiolone are found in the majority of barn owls, kestrels, and red kites tested
Secondary poisoning occurs when predators eat rodents that have consumed rodenticide bait
The Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use aims to reduce off-target exposure through stewardship
Alternative pest management including proofing, trapping, and grain protection avoids rodenticide risks
The anticoagulant effect of these substances can cause slow death from internal bleeding over days

Welfare Considerations

Rodenticide poisoning of wildlife represents one of the most widespread avoidable causes of wildlife suffering in agricultural and peri-urban environments. The secondary poisoning pathway — predator eats poisoned rodent, accumulates lethal dose — means that species with no role in the original pest problem die slowly from anticoagulant effects. The suffering involved is prolonged: internal bleeding causes weakness, disorientation, and eventually death over days. The stewardship programme that requires training and appropriate use practices before professional rodenticide purchase is an important step, but consumer-available rodenticides remain in widespread use without training requirements.

What You Can Do

Avoid using second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides especially in rural areas
Explore non-rodenticide pest management including grain proofing and trapping
Support stewardship programmes that restrict professional rodenticide use
Donate to wildlife monitoring programmes that track rodenticide exposure in predator species
Advocate for tighter restrictions on retail sale of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides