Wildlife Welfare

Wild Barn Owl Welfare and Rodenticide

Barn owls are acutely vulnerable to secondary rodenticide poisoning through prey contamination, with welfare and population implications.

Key Facts

Barn owls eat voles, mice, and shrews which may have ingested rodenticide bait
Anticoagulant rodenticide residues are found in the majority of barn owls tested post-mortem
Second-generation anticoagulants cause internal bleeding and prolonged agonizing death
First-generation rodenticides are safer for barn owls but less effective for pest control
Barn owl box programs that reduce rodent pressure naturally reduce rodenticide need

Welfare Considerations

Barn owl rodenticide poisoning causes a slow, painful death through internal bleeding - a welfare harm that is preventable through more careful rodenticide use and natural pest management alternatives. Community awareness of the risks is essential.

What You Can Do

Use rodenticides only as a last resort and choose first-generation compounds where possible
Install barn owl nest boxes to support natural rodent control
Support campaigns for stricter regulation of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides