Wildlife

Wild Buzzard Advanced: Rodenticide Welfare and Population

Buzzard welfare threats from anticoagulant rodenticide secondary poisoning require both regulatory and farm practice change.

Key Facts

Studies find anticoagulant rodenticide residues in over 50% of buzzards tested post-mortem
Secondary poisoning from rodenticide-killed prey impairs liver function and bleeding control
Barn owls and red kites are also significantly affected by secondary rodenticide poisoning
Rodenticide regulation reform is under review following Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use advocacy

Welfare Considerations

Buzzards poisoned by anticoagulant rodenticides die from internal haemorrhage over days. The welfare cost of secondary rodenticide poisoning to raptors is significant and widespread. Regulatory reform that restricts second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides to licensed professionals reduces but cannot eliminate secondary poisoning welfare harm.

What You Can Do

Use bait boxes exclusively to prevent non-target predator access to rodenticide-killed prey
Support Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use advocacy for regulatory reform
Report all suspected rodenticide poisoning in raptors to RSPCA and APHA