Rodenticides used in pest control cause significant non-target wildlife mortality through secondary poisoning. The welfare impacts on raptors, foxes, and other predators consuming poisoned rodents are severe.
Secondary rodenticide poisoning causes prolonged suffering in affected wildlife. Animals poisoned by consuming rodents that have ingested anticoagulant baits die slowly from internal haemorrhage over days, experiencing significant discomfort before death. The wildlife welfare and ecological damage caused by rodenticide use frequently exceeds the harm caused by the rodents being controlled. Non-toxic alternatives are effective in many situations but are underused because chemical control is perceived as easier. Stewardship programmes that restrict rodenticide use to situations where non-toxic alternatives have been demonstrated to be ineffective are a necessary welfare and conservation protection.