Marine Animals

Wild Atlantic Puffin Burrow and Colony Welfare

Atlantic puffin welfare depends on access to suitable burrowing habitat and adequate prey availability during the breeding season.

Key Facts

Puffins nest in burrows on coastal cliffs and islands
Burrow availability limits colony size on many islands
Predation by introduced mammals including rats has devastated some colonies
Sandeel availability during chick-rearing determines breeding success
Some colonies are moving their timing earlier in response to climate change

Welfare Considerations

Puffin chick starvation and predator-induced nest failure represent welfare harms affecting thousands of individual birds. Island predator removal and marine protected areas that protect sandeels are the two most impactful interventions for puffin welfare.

What You Can Do

Support island predator eradication programmes on seabird colonies
Donate to organisations monitoring puffin colonies and health
Advocate for protection of sandeel fishing grounds near breeding colonies