Our Work
The Trust's work - rodenticide advisory
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With 80-90% of farms using rodenticides, rodenticide poisoning and rodent control is a constant cause for concern at the Barn Owl Trust. There has been a dramatic increase in the number of Barn Owls eating poisoned rodents. During 1983/84 the proportion of dead Barn Owls found to contain rodenticide was 5% and by 2002/03 it had risen to 53%.
In view of this, most of our advisory work with farmers and landowners has included advice on rodent control aimed at preventing rodenticide poisoning in Barn Owls and other small-mammal predators. Our information leaflet ‘Rodent Control', first written in 1989, has been updated several times and included in all the BOT information packs provided at training events and workshops. It provides information on ways of controlling rats without using the more toxic ‘second generation' poisons. It also lists rodenticide products grouped according to the chemicals they contain and recommends their suitability for use (or not) where Barn Owls are present.
Enquiries frequently come in to the Barn Owl Trust about the use of rodenticides and most of them can be dealt with simply by directing people to the leaflet. (see the links to the right)
What to do if you find a dead owl
The Trust's work - live bird emergency calls
Rodent Control
We'd be delighted to receive a donation for it too!
The rodenticide industry has recognised that there is a need to address the concerns around rodenticide use and has established the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU). The Barn Owl Trust has met with the chairman of the CRRU and worked closely with him to revise and update the Rodent Control leaflet. You may like to visit the CRRU website via our links page.
