Barn Owl Conservation and Rodent Control

Barn owls are effective and humane rodent controllers whose populations have declined due to the very rodenticides used as alternatives.

Key Facts

A barn owl family can consume over 1,000 rodents in a breeding season
Barn owl populations have declined 70% in the UK since the 1930s
Second-generation rodenticides kill barn owls through secondary poisoning from eating poisoned rodents
Nest box programs have been highly effective at increasing local barn owl populations
Many farms that install nest boxes reduce rodenticide use by 70% or more

Welfare Considerations

Barn owls demonstrate how a welfare-positive approach to pest management can benefit multiple species simultaneously. By providing nesting habitat for barn owls, farmers gain effective, humane rodent control while also supporting a species that has been declining due to agricultural intensification and rodenticide poisoning. The welfare of barn owls killed by secondary rodenticide poisoning is an indirect consequence of pest management choices that has a clear, low-cost solution.

What You Can Do

Install barn owl nest boxes on rural properties with appropriate habitat
Stop using second-generation rodenticides that cause secondary poisoning
Support the Barn Owl Trust or similar organizations providing nest box programs
Advocate for second-generation rodenticide restrictions in agricultural settings
Share information about barn owls as a natural pest management tool with farmers