Death of yet another White-tailed Eagle in southern England linked to rat poison

Press release from Wildlife Poisoning Research UK (WRPUK), 29 October 2026

DEATH OF YET ANOTHER SEA EAGLE LINKED TO RAT POISON

The wildlife group Wildlife Poisoning Research UK (WPRUK) has established that another white tailed sea eagle, from the small population of these majestic birds in southern England, has been poisoned by the deadly toxin Brodifacoum. 

This poison, which is approved by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), is widely used by gamekeepers, farmers and pest controllers to kill rats on farms and shooting estates.  However, dead and dying rats become easy meals for predators like eagles and other birds of prey and the toxin moves up the food chain – killing as it goes. 

News of a string of previous eagle poisonings in Dorset earlier this year caused a major public outcry.  All these birds had been exposed to Brodifacoum and now it appears that this poison is still killing wildlife.  Rising levels of this toxin in the environment may undermine Government-supported plans to release more of these iconic birds in England.

Examining Government records on the internet, WPRUK has identified that the latest eagle killed was in Hampshire in June this year.  The summary on the internet states that:  ‘A white tailed eagle was found dead in a woodland.  Analysis has confirmed brodifacoum in the liver which is likely to be the cause of death’.

WPRUK has now sent a Freedom of Information Act request to the Government for more information about the killing of this bird.

Dr Ed Blane from WPRUK said:

“The ongoing killing of these eagles and other wildlife by this poison shows, once again, that the Government’s efforts to safeguard wildlife simply aren’t working.  They seem to have forgotten the damage done to wildlife by the disaster of DDT 50 years ago.

“We have the totally barking situation of one part of Government encouraging the re-introduction of sea eagles to the English countryside, while we have another Governmental body, the HSE, approving the use of poisons like Brodifacoum which are then killing the birds once they are released“.

ENDS