Wildlife Welfare

Wild Buzzard Recovery and Welfare

Common buzzards have recovered dramatically from persecution-driven population lows, now numbering over 70,000 breeding pairs in the UK. Individual welfare is still affected by rodenticide poisoning and illegal killing.

Key Facts

UK buzzard populations have recovered from under 10,000 pairs in the 1950s to over 70,000 pairs
Buzzards were absent from much of eastern England as recently as the 1990s
Rodenticide poisoning through secondary exposure remains a significant welfare and mortality cause
Buzzards are generalist predators feeding on rabbits, voles, earthworms, and carrion
Nest disturbance during the breeding season causes egg chilling and chick abandonment

Welfare Considerations

Individual buzzards poisoned through secondary rodenticide exposure or targeted persecution suffer painful deaths. While populations have recovered strongly, persistent persecution in some areas causes welfare suffering for affected individuals. Reducing rodenticide use in key buzzard areas and ensuring effective legal protection from deliberate persecution maintains the welfare gains of population recovery.

What You Can Do

Report suspected raptor poisoning to RSPB Investigations
Support campaigns to restrict second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide use
Advocate for strong enforcement of wildlife crime legislation