Red Kite Welfare and Illegal Persecution in the UK

Red kites have made a remarkable recovery in the UK following reintroduction, but illegal poisoning and persecution continue to cause preventable welfare harm to individuals.

Key Facts

Red kites were reintroduced to England, Scotland and Ireland from 1989; the UK population now exceeds 10,000 birds
Illegal second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning and deliberate bait poisoning remain the primary causes of red kite mortality
Post-mortem analysis of red kites found dead regularly reveals rodenticide residues even in birds without apparent poisoning as the cause of death
Red kites are highly visible, charismatic scavengers — their welfare impacts from persecution are well-documented through citizen science

Welfare Considerations

Anticoagulant poisoning causes a prolonged and painful death for red kites — internal haemorrhaging leads to weakness, inability to fly, respiratory distress and eventual death over days. Deliberately poisoned baits, placed illegally on some estates to kill foxes and crows, kill red kites as non-target victims. The welfare harm to individuals is severe; the population-level impact is significant in areas where persecution pressure is high. Wildlife crime reporting and prosecution are the primary enforcement mechanisms.

What You Can Do

Report dead or sick red kites to the RSPB Investigations Team or local Wildlife Crime Officer
Submit found red kites for post-mortem analysis through the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme
Support legal action against estates with documented history of raptor persecution
Advocate for tighter restrictions on second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides in agricultural settings