Wildlife

Barn Owl Welfare in 2026: Recovery and Remaining Threats

Barn owls have recovered from severe declines through a combination of nest box provision, farming changes, and legal protection, but still face threats from road mortality and rodenticide poisoning.

Key Facts

UK barn owl population has recovered to around 4,000-6,000 pairs
Nest box schemes have been critical to population recovery
Road mortality causes thousands of deaths annually, particularly young owls
Secondary rodenticide poisoning affects barn owls through contaminated prey
Cold wet winters cause high adult mortality through prey scarcity

Welfare Considerations

Barn owl welfare is threatened by road mortality, which is the largest cause of recorded deaths, and by secondary rodenticide poisoning from contaminated rats. Individual owls hunting at road verges are particularly vulnerable to vehicle strikes. Mitigation through roadside planting and reduced roadside verge width near owl hunting habitat can help.

What You Can Do

Erect a barn owl nest box in suitable habitat
Follow CRRU guidelines on rodenticide use near barn owl habitat
Support The Barn Owl Trust and BTO monitoring schemes
Advocate for hedgerow and road verge management that benefits hunting owls
Report injured barn owls to local wildlife hospitals immediately