19/12/2025
If our choice of rat poison impacts the entire ecosystem, when will we recognise that using rodenticides has a direct, lethal consequence on native wildlife? It’s a major conservation concern in the decline of the raptor population. Even if the dose is not immediately lethal, the poison can have severe long-term impacts.
Rodents who consume the poison do not die immediately, instead they become sluggish, weak, and disoriented over several days, and that’s downright cruel.
The primary consequence is secondary poisoning, a cycle where anticoagulant poisons make rodents sick and sluggish, turning them into easy-to-catch, toxic prey. The raptors then ingest the poison, which blocks vitamin K, preventing blood clotting leading to internal bleeding, weakness, and eventually death.
Even in small doses, anemia and weakness can make birds vulnerable to starvation as they’re too weak to hunt effectively, road trauma, and disease. When, for instance, an owl or other predator consumes one or more poisoned rodents, they ingest the toxic bait residue, leading to a build-up of the poison in their own system.
Up to 94% of some owl populations have tested positive for these toxins!
There’s no doubt that secondary poisoning is contributing to the decline of some native bird populations.
If you must, the preferred practice is to prioritise non-toxic methods (e.g., snap traps, exclusion, sanitation) or as a last resort, use First-Generation ARs (FGARs) in bait stations, which are less persistent and carry a lower risk of secondary poisoning.
The only effective treatment for AR poisoning involves administering Vitamin K for an extended period, which requires specialised veterinary care.
If you find a raptor exhibiting signs of weakness, bruising, or bleeding, do not attempt to treat it yourself, reach out to a licensed wildlife rescue or veterinarian immediately and notify your local wildlife authorities to report the sighting.
📷 : Nedomaki
