Wildlife Welfare

Wild Barn Owl Population and Rodenticide Welfare

Barn owl populations are recovering but remain threatened by secondary rodenticide poisoning from rat control, causing preventable suffering and death.

Key Facts

Barn owl populations have more than doubled in the UK since the 1980s
Over 90% of barn owls tested post-mortem show evidence of rodenticide exposure
Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides are responsible for most owl deaths
Internal haemorrhaging from rodenticide poisoning causes prolonged suffering
Rodenticide regulations are progressively tightening to protect raptors

Welfare Considerations

Rodenticide poisoning causes slow, painful death from internal bleeding in barn owls and other raptors. The barn owl's welfare is directly linked to rodent control practices in surrounding farmland. Transitioning to first-generation rodenticides and non-chemical pest control reduces secondary poisoning while maintaining effective rodent management.

What You Can Do

Use non-second-generation rodenticides for rodent control
Install barn owl nest boxes to support breeding pairs
Report barn owl carcasses to the Barn Owl Trust for monitoring