Birds of prey are illegally killed across Europe and North America despite legal protection. Understanding the scale and methods of raptor persecution drives better enforcement.
Raptors killed by poisoned baits experience prolonged suffering — organophosphate and rodenticide poisoning causes seizures, paralysis, and slow death over hours to days. Pole traps snap shut on landing birds, causing broken bones and slow death from exposure or predation. Lead poisoning from spent ammunition in carrion causes neurological damage and chronic illness. The illegal killing of raptors represents systematic cruelty against intelligent, long-lived birds that form pair bonds and engage in complex hunting behavior.