Birds

Welfare of Barn Owls in Agricultural Landscapes

Barn owls are valuable natural pest controllers but face significant threats in modern agricultural landscapes from rodenticides and habitat loss.

Key Facts

A pair of barn owls can catch over 1000 voles per year
They nest in barns and hollow trees increasingly scarce in modern farms
Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides kill barn owls via prey contamination
Barn owl populations have declined sharply across Europe since 1960
They rely on rough grassland habitats now largely converted to intensive agriculture

Welfare Considerations

Barn owls poisoned by rodenticides die slowly from internal bleeding, a profoundly painful death. Loss of hunting habitat forces them to travel farther, increasing road collision risk. Barn owls struck by vehicles commonly suffer wing and leg fractures. Loss of nesting sites causes breeding failure and displacement stress. Harsh winters kill owls weakened by prey scarcity, as they have almost no fat reserves.

What You Can Do

Avoid second-generation rodenticides like brodifacoum and bromadiolone
Install barn owl nest boxes in suitable habitats
Maintain rough grassland margins around fields for owl hunting
Report injured barn owls to licensed wildlife rehabilitators