Wild Kestrel Welfare and Rodenticide

Kestrels are declining across the UK partly due to rodenticide secondary poisoning and habitat loss. Protecting kestrel welfare requires landscape-level management changes.

Key Facts

UK kestrel populations have declined by 36% since 1995 according to BTO monitoring data
Kestrels feed primarily on voles and other small mammals making them vulnerable to secondary rodenticide poisoning
Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides are detected in over 80% of tested kestrels in some studies
Field margin management supporting vole populations improves kestrel foraging welfare and success
Kestrel nest boxes on farm buildings improve breeding success and local population stability

Welfare Considerations

Kestrel welfare is threatened by a combination of direct rodenticide poisoning from contaminated prey, reduced prey availability from habitat loss, and declining nesting site availability. These are systemic landscape-level threats rather than individual animal problems. Supporting integrated approaches to rodenticide reduction, habitat management, and nest provision addresses all three drivers.

What You Can Do

Avoid second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide use in home and garden settings
Install kestrel nest boxes on barns, poles, and buildings in suitable habitat areas
Advocate for agricultural pesticide restrictions protecting kestrels and other farmland raptors
Support conservation organizations monitoring kestrel populations and working on habitat improvement