Wildlife Welfare

Wild Barn Owl Population Welfare and Habitat

Barn owl populations in the UK have recovered from historical lows but continue to face welfare pressures from rodenticide poisoning and habitat loss.

Key Facts

UK barn owl populations stand at approximately 4,000 breeding pairs
Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) poison owls through contaminated prey
Barn owl boxes installed in appropriate habitat have contributed substantially to population recovery
Open rough grassland with small mammal prey is the key habitat requirement
Traffic collisions are a significant source of barn owl mortality particularly along road corridors

Welfare Considerations

Barn owl welfare is threatened by a combination of indirect rodenticide poisoning, habitat loss and road mortality. Reducing SGAR use in the landscape and maintaining rough grassland habitat are the most impactful welfare interventions.

What You Can Do

Avoid using SGARs around farm and domestic buildings where barn owls are present
Install barn owl nest boxes in appropriate habitat following Barn Owl Trust guidance
Report barn owl casualties and sightings to monitoring programmes