Wildlife

Wild Barn Owl Population Welfare

UK barn owl populations have recovered from 1990s lows through nest box provision and rodenticide awareness, but climate change and rodenticide use remain threats.

Key Facts

UK barn owl populations recovered from 4,000 pairs in the 1990s to 4,000-8,000 today
Nest box provision by volunteers has been the primary driver of population recovery
Wet summers with high rainfall cause chick mortality through nest flooding and prey unavailability
Second-generation rodenticide poisoning remains an ongoing welfare and conservation threat
Barn Owl Trust monitoring through nest box schemes tracks population trends nationally

Welfare Considerations

Barn owl population welfare has been improved significantly through nest box provision and public awareness. Ongoing threats from rodenticides and climate require continued vigilance and action.

What You Can Do

Install and monitor barn owl nest boxes to contribute to population recovery
Avoid all second-generation rodenticide use near barn owl territories
Submit nest box monitoring data to the Barn Owl Trust national monitoring scheme