Wild Barn Owl Rodenticide Reform Campaign

Campaign work to reform rodenticide regulations and practices is essential to protect barn owls and other wildlife from secondary poisoning.

Key Facts

Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides including brodifacoum are detected in 95% of tested barn owls
These compounds persist in prey animals long enough to accumulate to lethal levels in predators
Stewardship schemes requiring professional use of SGARs have not reduced wildlife exposure significantly
First-generation alternatives including chlorophacinone are less persistent but require multiple feeds
Non-toxic alternatives including trapping and barn owl nest box provision reduce rodent pressure without chemicals

Welfare Considerations

Rodenticide reform campaigns represent welfare advocacy at a systemic level - changing the chemicals available, the conditions of their use, and the culture around rodent control. Individual barn owls die agonising deaths from haemorrhage that could be prevented by switching to mechanical traps or first-generation rodenticides. Campaign success on rodenticide reform would prevent thousands of individual deaths annually.

What You Can Do

Use spring traps instead of rodenticides for rodent control
Support wildlife organisations campaigning for SGAR reform including the Barn Owl Trust
Write to your MP advocating for stricter rodenticide regulations