Wildlife

Wild Barn Owl Rodenticide Secondary Poisoning

Barn owls are disproportionately exposed to second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides through their prey, causing widespread welfare harm.

Key Facts

Studies show over 90% of barn owls tested in the UK carry detectable rodenticide residues
Second-generation anticoagulants (SGARs) cause internal haemorrhage over days to weeks
Barn owls eating poisoned rodents accumulate lethal or sublethal doses over the breeding season
Sublethal exposures cause impaired coordination and reduced hunting effectiveness
Legislation restricting SGAR use to professional pest controllers has been introduced but compliance varies

Welfare Considerations

Rodenticide poisoning causes prolonged suffering in barn owls - internal bleeding, weakness, impaired flight and death over days. The secondary exposure pathway through prey means owls are poisoned unknowingly by farmers and householders using legal rodenticides. Switching to first-generation products or non-toxic alternatives prevents this.

What You Can Do

Use first-generation rodenticides (difenacoum, bromadiolone) or physical traps instead of SGARs
Report barn owl corpses to the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme for post-mortem toxicology
Support campaigns for tighter SGAR regulation and better compliance
Advocate for poison-free pest control approaches on farms and in gardens