Wildlife Welfare

Wild Barn Owl Nest Box and Rodenticide Risk

Barn owls have benefited enormously from nest box programmes, but secondary rodenticide poisoning remains a significant threat, killing individual owls and contaminating entire food chains.

Key Facts

Barn owl populations in the UK have stabilised due largely to nest box schemes
Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides are found in the majority of barn owls tested
Rodenticide poisoning causes internal bleeding and prolonged suffering before death
Integrated pest management alternatives to rodenticides protect owls and other raptors
Nest box provision only helps if the landscape supports sufficient prey populations

Welfare Considerations

Nest box schemes have transformed barn owl welfare at the population level. However, rodenticide contamination from farms and industrial sites poisons owls through their prey. The suffering caused by anticoagulant poisoning is significant and prolonged. Replacing rodenticide use with integrated pest management is the most welfare-positive approach.

What You Can Do

Install barn owl nest boxes on agricultural land following RSPB guidelines
Eliminate rodenticide use from gardens and farms where barn owls are present
Support campaigns to restrict second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides