Recurring rodent risks

IT’S not always appreciated, but birds of prey, including barn owls and red kites, play a key role in controlling the rat and mice population in a natural way, writes Donal Hickey

A pair of barn owls can take up to 25 rodents on a single night, it has been found.

A problem is, however, that useful predators themselves often fall victim to artificial methods used in killing rodents. Poisons put out for these pests can end up in the stomachs of their predators, such as the above- mentioned birds, with fatal consequences.