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Related Experiment Videos

Rodenticides in British barn owls.

I Newton1, I Wyllie, P Freestone

  • 1Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Monks Wood Experimental Station, Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon, Cambs PE17 2LS, UK.

Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
|January 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary

Barn Owls in Britain are exposed to rodenticides, with 10% of deceased owls showing residues. Brodifacoum is more toxic than difenacoum, but current rodenticide use does not significantly impact owl populations.

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Area of Science:

  • Wildlife toxicology
  • Avian ecology
  • Pesticide impact studies

Background:

  • Barn Owls (Tyto alba) are susceptible to environmental contaminants.
  • Rodenticides are widely used, posing potential risks to non-target wildlife.
  • Previous studies have indicated potential exposure pathways for owls.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of rodenticide residues in deceased Barn Owls.
  • To assess the toxicity of difenacoum and brodifacoum to Barn Owls through controlled feeding trials.
  • To evaluate the potential impact of these rodenticides on Barn Owl populations in Britain.

Main Methods:

  • Necropsy and liver residue analysis of 145 deceased Barn Owls.
  • Analysis of rodenticide residues (difenacoum, brodifacoum) in owl livers.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Controlled feeding experiments using mice dosed with difenacoum and brodifacoum, subsequently fed to Barn Owls.

    • Main Results:

    • 10% of deceased Barn Owls contained difenacoum or brodifacoum residues.
    • Brodifacoum was found to be more toxic to Barn Owls than difenacoum.
    • Controlled feeding trials showed lethal effects from brodifacoum at specific doses, while difenacoum did not cause mortality.

    Conclusions:

    • Barn Owls in Britain are widely exposed to second-generation rodenticides.
    • Brodifacoum poses a greater toxicological risk to Barn Owls than difenacoum.
    • Current rodenticide exposure levels have not yet demonstrably affected Barn Owl population trends, but continued monitoring is recommended.