Barn owl populations have recovered partially from historic lows through conservation efforts, but face ongoing threats from rat poison, road mortality, severe winters and barn conversions.
Barn owl welfare operates at the interface of individual wellbeing and population conservation. Individual owls suffering starvation during winter, poisoning from rodenticides or road strike experience acute suffering. At population level, threats to breeding success reduce the number of individual owls living good lives. Welfare-conscious barn owl conservation requires addressing the preventable causes: rodenticide-free buffer zones around nesting sites, wildlife-friendly road design in known owl territories, maintaining rough grass hunting habitat, and providing nest boxes in areas with suitable hunting habitat but no natural nest sites. Landowners, farmers and householders all play roles in barn owl welfare through their rodent control choices and habitat management.