Rodent control chemicals are killing our wild birds

Gamekeepers and farmers are facing new restrictions on how they can control rats, due to a chemical industry initiative intended to protect wildlife from poisoning. 

On 1 January 2025 the use of rat baits containing bromadiolone and difenacoum was banned in fields and other open areas in England and Wales. However, the use of these poisons in and around buildings remains legal. 

The restrictions have been introduced by companies selling rat poisons and agreed by the Government, as an industry-led scheme to reduce rat poison exposure in wild birds such as buzzards has failed. However, an investigation by Wildlife Poisoning Research UK (WPRUK) showed that, between 2020 and 2023, a different chemical, brodifacoum, accounted for more than 85% of all cases where potentially lethal levels of poison were found in birds. Bromadiolone and difenacoum cases were found to be low. 

Dr Ed Blane from WPRUK said the new restrictions are “very much a missed opportunity” as brodifacoum is now the main killer of wild birds in the UK. The WPRUK findings have been sent to the Senedd and Dr Blane called for leaders in Wales to “take stronger action to protect our threatened wildlife”. 

In 2020 the UK government should have carried out a full review of the environmental damage caused by poisons. The review has yet to happen and Dr Blane warned: “The longer this review is delayed the more wild birds and animals will be poisoned.”