Barn Owl Rodenticide Poisoning Welfare

Barn owls are acutely vulnerable to secondary rodenticide poisoning through eating contaminated rodents, causing internal haemorrhage and population-level declines in some areas.

Key Facts

Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides accumulate in the livers of rodents surviving sub-lethal doses
Barn owls eating poisoned rodents accumulate these compounds and may die from internal bleeding
Studies show that over 90 percent of barn owls tested carry detectable rodenticide residues in the UK
The Food and Environment Research Agency surveys have documented widespread rodenticide exposure in raptors
Professional use restrictions on SGARs are intended to reduce non-target exposure but farm use continues widely
Barn owl population densities are lower in areas with intensive rodenticide use compared to less intensive areas

Welfare Considerations

Rodenticide poisoning causes a prolonged and distressing death for barn owls through progressive internal haemorrhage. Affected birds become progressively weaker before dying from blood loss into body cavities. The suffering involved is significant and prolonged over days. The widespread prevalence of rodenticide residues in virtually all barn owls tested indicates systemic exposure at population scale. While individual doses may not cause immediate death, cumulative sub-lethal exposure impairs immune function and breeding success. The welfare case for reducing rodenticide use in barn owl habitats is compelling.

What You Can Do

Avoid using second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides in areas with barn owl activity where alternatives exist
Install barn owl nest boxes to support local populations and provide monitoring points for welfare assessment
Report dead or moribund barn owls to the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme for toxicology testing
Support the Barn Owl Trust campaigns for stronger rodenticide regulation to protect raptors
Advocate for Integrated Pest Management approaches that reduce reliance on rodenticides around farms