Restrictions on Rodenticides

An Eastern Barn Owl is wrapped in a forest green towel. She has the signature heart-shaped facial disk of her species, keeping in mind the heart isn't pointed at the bottom, so it's more like the Tagalog letter Ba 'ᜊ' but upside down. Within the fluffy white-feathered disk are a pair of 98% closed eyes and a long pale pink beak. Together they form a 'V' shape with curvy end points, like the astrological symbol for Aries the Ram '♈'. And though she may appear a little woolly, and though her face contains the symbol for 'Ba(a)', and though ovine and owl share a page in the dictionary, this creature is not a sheep. One has hooves, the other hoos.

26th of Owltober!

Original post – 15 Jun 2025
by Darling Range Wildlife Shelter

located in Gosnells, Western Australia , Australia 🇦🇺
Website | Instagram | Facebook

This Barn Owl suffered poisoning from rodenticide travelling up the food chain.

Original text:

Second-generation rat poisons (SGARs) don’t just kill rats—they poison everything that eats them.

Birds, pets and wildlife are dying from internal bleeding after feeding on contaminated rodents.

Devastatingly, we see it all too often in admissions at the shelter and studies in Australia have found deadly SGAR levels in Powerful Owls, Boobooks, Wedge-tailed Eagles & more.

Fortunately, big progress has been made on controlling SGAR sales in the name of Australian wildlife protection. In December 2025, the APVMA announced major regulatory changes to restrict the sale of over 160 SGAR products nationwide. This breakthrough was driven by community voices speaking up and was supported by a review of more than 1,500 scientific studies.

This Barn Owl’s rescue happened before these new restrictions came into play. Her story is a reminder that environmental protections are so so vital, and their writing into law is a testament to people-powered change.

Link to donate to Darling Range Wildlife Shelter for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Tyto javanicaEastern Barn OwlWiki link

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