WA Wildlife Hospital at Beeliar has admitted more than 65 owls poisoned with secondary toxicity over the last three months.

The not-for-profit organisation rescues, treats, rehabilitates and conserves more than 6500 animals every year.

Hospital and Veterinary Program Manager Dr Meg Rodgers says the toxins come from ingesting rats and mice poisoned from anticoagulant rodenticides.

“The owls affected by this come to us extremely pale and lethargic,” she says.

“In extreme cases they can be bleeding from multiple orifices and can lose a lot of blood.” 

Recently, there was a study made on WA’s Southern Boobook owl population showing that 72.6% of the species had evidence of exposure to these rodenticides.

“Over 50% of the owls we admit have been poisoned and, unfortunately, there are a lot of birds that don’t make it. Those that do can be in our care for up to three months.”

This is a global problem, and in WA many local councils are now advocating for an ‘owl friendly’ committee.

“This is a fantastic initiative and movement committed to not using second generation anticoagulant rodenticides and opt for a more animal-friendly form of rat control,” Dr Rodgers says.

“There are much more humane ways of expelling rodents from your area and that’s something WA is working towards to help these birds of prey.”

Originally started by the Margaret River Council, an owl-friendly committee chooses “wildlife-friendly methods of controlling rats and mice” and is an “important way that you can make our region a safe haven”. 

The City of Cockburn Council has been the first of the Perth region to partake in the movement.

“Implementing these methods and encouraging an education in the issue is the best way to help your community.”