Wildlife Welfare

Wild Barn Owl Secondary Rodenticide Poisoning

Secondary rodenticide poisoning is a significant cause of barn owl welfare harm and population decline.

Key Facts

UK barn owl surveys consistently find rodenticides in a majority of tested carcasses
Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides cause internal bleeding and a slow death
Affected barn owls may show deteriorating hunting ability before death from haemorrhage
Legal outdoor use of rodenticides continues despite documented wildlife welfare impacts
Non-toxic rodent control alternatives exist and are effective in many situations

Welfare Considerations

Barn owls dying from rodenticide poisoning experience a prolonged deterioration through internal bleeding that may last days or weeks. The suffering of individual birds from this largely invisible, chronic threat is significant. Unlike acute trauma, rodenticide poisoning is invisible to the public - affected birds simply disappear. Reducing this welfare harm requires restricting rodenticide use and promoting alternatives.

What You Can Do

Advocate for tighter restrictions on second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide use
Use non-toxic rodent control methods where possible
Support barn owl monitoring programmes that track rodenticide exposure