Use of rat poison is leading to the wide-scale poisoning of Australia’s nocturnal predatory birds, including the crowd favourite tawny frogmouth and Australia’s largest owl, the majestic powerful owl.

Anticoagulant rat poisons are effective at killing rodents, but they also accumulate in the liver and muscle tissues of predators that eat the poisoned animals.

Our new research reveals alarming levels of rat poisons in our nocturnal predatory birds.

Given the high rate of exposure to rat poisons, it is likely predator populations will decline.

The common brushtail possum, with its broad diet and penchant for living in roof cavities, is no doubt directly feasting on rat poison.

So the high level of rat poison we found in nocturnal predators is likely the tip of a poisoned iceberg.

There is a very strong likelihood you will poison more than rodents - you could be poisoning a tawny frogmouth or owl.