Barn Owl Conservation and Welfare

Barn owls have recovered in parts of the UK thanks to conservation efforts, but face ongoing threats from road mortality, rodenticide poisoning and loss of nesting sites.

Key Facts

UK barn owl populations have recovered from historic lows due to nest box provision and habitat management
Road mortality is the leading cause of barn owl death in the UK, with young birds dispersing in autumn particularly vulnerable
Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) are found in the livers of over 90% of barn owls tested
Barn owls require open rough grassland with high vole populations for successful breeding
The Barn Owl Trust provides detailed guidance for landowners on habitat management and nest box provision

Welfare Considerations

Individual barn owls that die from road collision or rodenticide poisoning experience significant suffering. Rodenticide poisoning through secondary routes (eating poisoned prey) causes internal haemorrhage that is painful and slow. Road collision victims often sustain severe internal and external injuries. Conservation efforts that reduce these mortality sources have direct positive welfare impacts for thousands of individual owls annually.

What You Can Do

Install a barn owl nest box on your land if you have suitable habitat, following Barn Owl Trust guidance
Avoid using second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides and switch to non-toxic alternatives
Report barn owl casualties to the Barn Owl Trust's monitoring database
Maintain rough grass margins along field edges to support vole populations that barn owls need
Support the Barn Owl Trust's conservation and public education work