Pesticide use in agriculture poses significant welfare and population risks to wildlife including birds, mammals, invertebrates, and amphibians through direct toxicity and indirect effects on food chains.
Pesticide exposure causes welfare harm through multiple pathways. Direct poisoning from rodenticides causes internal hemorrhaging and prolonged death in barn owls and other raptors. Sublethal exposure impairs navigation, foraging efficiency, immune function, and reproduction in birds and mammals. Indirect effects through prey depletion cause starvation welfare impacts across food webs. Amphibians with permeable skin are particularly vulnerable to chemical contamination of their aquatic habitats. The cumulative cocktail effect of multiple sublethal pesticide exposures is poorly understood but likely significant. Transitioning to integrated pest management and organic approaches reduces wildlife welfare harm while maintaining sustainable agriculture.