Barn Owl Welfare: Supporting a Threatened Species

Barn owls are a beloved but declining UK species, with population welfare threatened by rodenticide poisoning, road mortality, and loss of nesting sites.

Key Facts

UK barn owl population is estimated at 4,000-6,000 breeding pairs, with significant year-to-year variation
Barn owls are highly sensitive to cold winters, particularly when snow covers prey for extended periods
Rodenticide (rat poison) secondary poisoning affects a high proportion of barn owls tested - 75%+ in some studies
Road mortality is significant - barn owls hunt at road verge height and are struck by vehicles
Loss of old buildings and hollow trees removes traditional nest sites, making nest box provision critical
Barn owls breed in nest boxes provided by the Barn Owl Trust with considerable success
UK barn owl declines are most pronounced in intensively farmed lowland England with reduced rough grassland habitat

Welfare Considerations

Barn owl welfare is primarily threatened by human activities: rodenticide use in rat control, road design that creates hunting mortality risk, and building management that removes nest sites. All three are addressable through human behaviour change. Barn owls that ingest rodenticide-poisoned prey suffer sublethal effects including reduced hunting ability, making them more susceptible to starvation and secondary threats. Switching to snap traps for rat control rather than rodenticides is a practical action any householder or farm can take that directly benefits barn owl welfare.

What You Can Do

Switch from rodenticide to snap traps for rat control to prevent barn owl secondary poisoning
Install barn owl nest boxes in appropriate rural locations following Barn Owl Trust guidance
Support the Barn Owl Trust through membership and donation
Maintain rough grassland around farm and rural buildings to provide barn owl hunting habitat
Report barn owl sightings to BTO Bird Track to support population monitoring