20/10/2025
Please read this before posting an angry icon.
Rats, rabbits and pigeons steal animal feed and cost farmers millions of pounds every year. Rats, especially, are increasingly resistant to culling by poisons.
Rats and mice will readily feed from the same locations as farm animals. In six months, 100 mice can consume over 54Kg of feed and 100 rats could consume around 600Kg. Sugar beet, beans, cereals, and other crops, may be damaged by rats, rabbits and birds.
Rats can cause severe structural damage As their teeth grow continuously throughout their lives, rats and mice need to gnaw on objects to wear their teeth down. These objects can include items such as electric cables, which could result in fires starting, plastic water pipes, which lead to leaks and supply issues, motor cables, especially on tractors. The true cost of the damage caused by rats is unknown, but it is believed mice and rats are responsible for around 50% of farm fires in the UK, due to gnawing of electric cables.
Damaged wiring can lead to fires that may result in wasted time of emergency services, injuries, and deaths.
The cost of rabbit damage to farms in the UK is estimated to be in excess of £100 million annually. This figure represents the economic impact of rabbit infestations on agricultural and horticultural industries, which can lead to significant financial losses. The damage caused by rabbits includes overgrazing, burrowing, and infrastructure damage, which can severely impact crop fields and grazing land. The cumulative cost of crop loss, reseeding, fencing repairs, and livestock injuries can climb into the thousands of pounds per year. Additionally, the visual damage to land can reduce its value and deter future investment in conservation or diversification projects.
The cost of pigeon damage to farms in the UK is estimated to be over £100 million annually. This damage includes the destruction of crops, contamination of produce, and the destruction of farm buildings. The wood pigeon population has increased significantly, leading to a major agricultural pest problem. Farmers report that woodpigeon damage can cause 10.40% yield loss, costing roughly £125 per hectare in lost oilseed r**e and up to £1,250 per hectare in high-value vegetable crops. Other pest birds like crows, rooks, starlings, gulls, and geese also contribute to the damage, affecting the productivity of UK agriculture.
