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Rodent control and Barn Owls
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Within the UK food industry there is an ever-increasing demand from consumers, supermarkets and processing companies for high quality and safe food. This has led to stricter quality assurance requirements and the need for more effective control of pests, such as rodents (rats and mice) on farms. However, there is recognition of the need to protect Barn Owls and other predators that sometimes prey on rodents that have eaten poison. In addition, birds and non-target mammals that might eat the poison itself need to be protected.
The majority of rodent poison, or rodenticide, in the UK usually takes the form of grain or pellets to which the poison has been applied. There are two main types of cumulative rodenticide: first generation (multiple dose) such as Warfarin, mainly used in areas where rats demonstrate little resistance, and more toxic second generation (single dose) poisons. The majority of rodent control in the UK uses second generation.
There is no doubt that Barn Owls across the UK are widely exposed to the risk of secondary poisoning and that individual Barn Owls die as a result. Rodenticides almost certainly have a detrimental effect on Barn Owl populations in the UK and this is an issue of serious concern for Barn Owl conservation.
All rodenticides are toxic and can kill Barn Owls; however the instructions provided on the containers do not mention the risks or explain how secondary poisoning happens. Labelling generally gives the impression that provided baits are kept covered, and dead rodents disposed of, there is little or no risk to predatory birds. Unfortunately no amount of bait covering will prevent secondary poisoning (for a full explanation and list of rodenticides, see the Trusts leaflet on Rodent Control).
Pictures of dead Barn Owls
Rodent Control
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The Barn Owl Trust has helped to campaign for improved labelling on all rodenticide products and this led to a meeting with Dr Alan Buckle, chairman for the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use, a body set up by the rodenticide industry. The current plan is for the words ‘Harmful to Wildlife' to be included in product labels. This small step is certainly in the right direction.
For further information download our "Rodent Control" leaflet from the link on the right.
Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use
Rodent control
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