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Red kites and buzzards are being killed by misuse of rat poisons

Campaigners are calling for stricter controls on rodenticides after finding that birds of prey in England are increasingly being exposed to high doses of rat poison

By Graeme Green

12 November 2024

Red kite

Red kites have been found with high levels of rodenticides in their livers

TheOtherKev/Pixabay

Raptors across England are being killed by the widespread misuse of rat poisons and the problem is getting worse, in spite of a UK government prevention scheme, according to a report from Wild Justice, a not-for-profit environmental group.

“The degree of harm that the misuse of rodenticides is causing to our wildlife is incredibly worrying,” says broadcaster Chris Packham, co-director of Wild Justice. “The voluntary code of practice is utterly useless – it’s just not working.”

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