Public Urged To Help Reduce Feral Chickens
“The unchecked growth of Bermuda’s feral chicken population is a serious issue that affects our farmers, our environment, and even our public health,” stated a spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Works & Environment.
A Government spokesperson said, “The Government of Bermuda urges residents to refrain from feeding or abandoning chickens. The growing population of feral chickens significantly threatens agriculture, native wildlife and public health.
“The Department of Environment and Natural Resources [DENR] is reinforcing efforts to control the population through targeted trapping and removal programs and is calling for public cooperation.
“Feral chickens are an invasive species with few natural predators, leading to devastating losses for farmers. These birds destroy crops, increasing food prices and affecting local food security.
“Beyond farms, feral chickens have become a nuisance in public areas, frequently invading outdoor dining spaces and potentially spreading contaminants.
“Adding to these concerns, the global outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza [HPAI] presents a major risk. Migratory birds could introduce avian flu to Bermuda, and the uncontrolled feral chicken population could serve as a reservoir for the virus.
“While the risk to the public is low, individuals who work with poultry, are immunocompromised, or handle birds are at higher risk.
“The public is urged to follow DENR guidelines and support the ongoing management effort to protect our island’s food security and health.”
“You should not encourage, feed, or protect feral chickens,” the spokesperson added.
“The Government is committed to addressing this problem, but we cannot do it alone. We are ramping up our efforts, and we ask the public to support these measures to help restore balance to our environment.”
“To mitigate these risks, DENR is asking the public to take the following actions:
- Do not feed feral chickens or pigeons. It encourages overpopulation and the spread of disease.
- Do not tamper with traps placed to capture feral chickens.
- Do not dump or relocate unwanted chickens. Instead, contact DENR for assistance.
- Secure backyard poultry to prevent contact with wild birds.
- Report large populations of feral chickens via DENR’s online reporting system.
- Dispose of food waste properly, as open food sources attract feral chickens.
“For more information or to report problems with feral chickens, visit here.”
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Category: All, Environment, News
Suitable traps available from places like Rural King and Tractor Supply are readily available for about $50 but not in Bermuda where the powers that be do not allow the public the possession of such traps.
WHY? What makes Bermuda so different that the public cannot have these traps?
Exactly what is the public supposed to do to get rid of the feral chickens? Trap maintenance is a daily thing. Can’t wait weeks for Government to check on them. Dealing with a caught chicken is easy.
Like, do we have to let you know where the chickens are?
That would explain the explosion in numbers of chickens across the island.
Not like they’re hard to find, they’re in mostly every neighborhood.
This looks like a job and an opportunity for Mr. Chicken!
The election is over. It is time for talk, not action.
Don’t have to get rid of chickens ….get rid of the roosters and problem will naturally take care of itself
can we get a new government email like the pothole one to report? feralchickens@gov.bm
Totally unacceptable to have a government email for potholes , same as for feral chickens . You do not have to go far to see either one .
Yeah I was being sarcastic about the emai.
Could you just have a weekend of no-leash laws for dogs at the Arboretum? There would quickly be a bunch of dead chickens at no cost.
How about a public cook out? Free barbecued chicken for everyone!
Heartless and not funny
You pay to play with them at Port Royal golf course. They are quite the unwanted side attraction. Considering that the government cannot keep their own cash crop(s) property free of these chickens what hope do we have for our own? I’m pretty sure no matter how much we email nothing will truly get done about it until something drastic happens.
“You pay to play with them at Port Royal golf course”
They make it easier to birdie a hole!
The ongoing feral chicken problem needs a practical solution, and I propose a bounty system: the government should offer $100 per chicken carcass turned in. This would provide a strong incentive for people to help control the population, much like successful bounty programs for invasive species elsewhere. Not only would it reduce the nuisance and environmental impact, but it could also create an economic boost for locals willing to participate. If we’re serious about addressing this issue, let’s put a price on it—literally.
$100 per chicken!? Imagine the number of illegal grow houses that would suddenly appear. Certainly beats the old PLP chicken farm idea, much less work and better payout.
“government should offer $100 per chicken carcass turned in”
That would only lead to the illegal breeding of chickens and the slaughter of domestic chickens by those looking for a quick reward. We have seen that in history.
My father told me that the government used to do this for crows back in the 1950s.
Let’s form a committee to investigate the problem and issue a report. That will take a few years and can join the report on pit bulls. Another can kicked down the road.
“Let’s form a committee to investigate the problem and issue a report.”
Did that not happen in 1896? We should be seeing the report any day now!
Yes, that is it. Form a committee to talk about it. Problem solved as far as this Government is concerned.
Put it on that very long “we are gonna do” list.
So, can we take sling shot courses at Bermuda College??
Parish and going back . This has dragged on tooo long.
Considering theres only like 2 guys who “supposedly” maintain them, its no surprise they are overpopulated. Smh. Gov couldnt work their way out of a wet paper bag.
A big part of the chicken problem is the feral cat problem. The feeding stations for the cats are also feeding the chickens. We will talk about both of these connected issues ad nauseum until there is the will to do something about it.
Take away the feral cat feeding stations, and guess what the cats will eat?
Well it won’t be the chickens coz in case you haven’t noticed , nothing messes with the feral chickens except maybe the odd mad dog off its leash.
Not any one of you have made any mention or in that eloquent sermon above of the resolutionrat plague .
as in London’s rat plague that killed thousands.
Saw a rat yesterday evening it was a bit early usualy come around the trash container midnight.
the root of all evil is the weekly domestic.
The thought of cruelty to animals as a rat injesting poison that takes3 days to die of an aganizing death.
you han to have no heart to do that.
The pigeons get a air gun pellet and fly away to die that feeds the rats.
Not sure how they are going to deal with the elimination of the roosters, let them starve ,now that is cruel in an abandoned roosters trap while keeping company with a cat.
Alot of people left the island recently what happened to their pets were they turned loose..
Next challenge 50,000 starlings down at the airport
” it is not what you do, it is how you do it .”
” it is not how you do it is what you do . ”
Cruelty to animals non the less .
BUCK. PASS TASKS ON TO THE PUBLIC.
Got some to blame if it all goes wrong . ??????? POISON ??????
It seems like this is a regular occurance when a department of the Government is off to a good start passes down some of its delayed responsibility to the public .
Do not blame us for back fires.
Blame your selves !
You all know the saying. “Not my job”. do we not pay taxes for that ?
Apparently , Poison is being used which can have adverse negative consequences for a multitude of mis use reasons being used in the wrong hands.
Want a what if ! *****SCARY SCRARY SCARY*****
A rat eats poison and get in a house water tank, there is no turning back in the pipe .
not all tank over flow pipes or roof down pipes are properly screened.
RATS .
Rats can easy jump up from 3 ft to up 4 ft .
They can easily get into your roof you can hear them scamper ,a favourite warm hiding place, tap on the ceiling to scare them away.
Rats eat the plastic coated wire insalation that may cause of an electrical short circuit and posible fire.
Check fuse size ratings range for” for your potection in the event of a short circuit.
You may need an electrision .
If a rat dies in you roof from poison the dead body smell lingers for well over several weeks.
Rat urine can kill. as they constantly mark their presence.
They poop every where .
A rat stickie pad must be securely tied so the rat does not go off with it.
By the way rats are not scuba divers .
Mechanical rat traps are dangerious to fingers
if not sure do not mess with a mechanical rat trap . Wear thick gloves
Good bait is fish skin as it is smelly.
A rat will travel miles for a good mid night supper.
Rats run close to walls using their wickers as Rat Radah.
Once a week is not good enough for house hold trash pick up. they can smell food over londistances
I only use metal trash bins , not plastic . and double baf every thing .
You want the truth,rats are the worst of the worst
the use of any poison to kill animals should be banned, it is an act of terrorism which endangers environment, pets, animals, and public. It is also heartless and barbaric. No authority or civilian should dispense poison anywhere. Vermin get into water and food supplies and will poison the public who will go unaware until sudden mysterious illnesses and deaths. like i said, its terrorism under a different name.
HOME MADE RAT TRAPS. >>>>>>> OR A FOX TERRIOR .
Rat season is getting close after their little ones are born the go on the food search..
A visit to “you tube” will find many designs for home made rat traps.
The will need a ramp to get to the top of the bucket type..
My favorite used a 5 gallon paint pail which you will half fill with water so the rat can not have footing to jump out and spring board / see saw the hinge can be mad or plastic an office stapler o 2″ stickie tape ,will do
a cheep hard ware stop hinge will do attach . mid poin on tj spring bird
The water in the bucket serves two purposes.
A quick fix .
use a LARGE stickie with a string and 5 lb anchor do not let the rat suffer they are just hungry that is all .
use fish skins for bate and on you hands or use surgical gloves . the bait goes on thefar end of the prring boars
Rats can smell humans which will deter them.
Same as when you go fish / fishing you will need to chum bait the trap and bait the area for say three nights and next to the trap to encourage the customers .
If you do not catch any rats you are on of the lucky ones .
My record was three in one night .
MAY I BEG YOU.
Please do not let any rodent or any other said to be invasive animal suffer or shed blood.
If you get a RAT in your house find where it got in ,and put bait out side the entry to draw it out.
Do not play rat hide and seek in your house !