Inside our flight enclosure with Barn Owls in corner. Abuse of DDT nearly caused the Peregrine Falcon to become extinct several years ago. Even today in our environmentally aware society, poisons can be readily purchased for eliminating rodents such as gophers, mice and rats. Many of these poisons not only kill the targeted animal, but the predator who feeds on the dead or dying animal. Secondary poisoning is generally a much slower death with apparently prolonged suffering involved in the process.
Many birds of prey die annually due to secondary poisoning.
The true tragedy in these situations is that we inadvertently kill the very animals who would have solved our initial rodent problem. The predators in our area consume volumes of rodents, and represent the only natural way to control them. If you have birds of prey in your area, be grateful. Your rodent problem would be much worse if you didn't have them. Don't put out poisons, seek humane deterrents, and construct nest boxes to encourage birds of prey to nest and reside in your area.