Residents will be invited to snare and report the presence of feral chickens, thanks to a series of measures announced in the House of Assembly yesterday.

However, the Opposition said the plan for tackling the pests fell short, and called for a co-ordinated national response.

Jaché Adams, the Minister of Public Works and Environment, said that 100 traps will be available to buy at $100 each while the introduction of an app will mean that trained officers can attend and retrieve the animals.

He told MPs: “What may once have been seen as a small inconvenience has become a serious concern for our farmers, our environment, our neighbourhoods and even our public health.”

Mr Adams told the House that feral chickens have almost no natural predators in Bermuda, rapidly multiply and are known to cause farmers “major crop losses”.

He added: “Beyond the agricultural impact, these birds often disturb public areas, scatter garbage, disrupt outdoor dining and cause hygiene issues for residents and visitors.”

He said that the problem was even more concerning because of the continued global circulation of highly pathogenic bird flu.

Mr Adams added: “While the risk to the public, in Bermuda, remains low, a large unmanaged feral chicken population could act as a reservoir.

“Therefore, it’s essential that Bermuda remains watchful, prepared and proactive.”

Mr Adams said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is tasked with managing invasive chickens and removes more than 1,300 of the birds a month.

However, he said the scale of the problem exceeds what the department can manage.

To help tackle the issue, Mr Adams said that an app was created by the DENR to monitor invasive-bird sightings and track control efforts, which will be made available to the public after testing.

He added: “Residents will be able to report feral chicken activity directly, allowing DENR to focus resources where they are most needed.

“The app provides accurate geographic information for staff response while maintaining user privacy.”

Mr Adams said two additional contractors will be hired to enhance trapping and sedative-bait operations, almost doubling the capacity for feral chicken removal.

Mr Adams said: “Based on the recommendation of the Board of Agriculture, the Government will begin a pilot programme allowing selected registered farmers to address feral chickens on their own properties.

“Farmers will receive full training and use approved traps and sedative baits under strict safety protocols to avoid harm to pets and prevent accidental captures. All birds collected will be humanely euthanised.

“The results of this programme will guide future policy and may allow expansion to all trained registered farmers.”

He added: “To support community involvement, DENR has purchased 100 feral chicken traps, which are now available at the agriculture service centre for $100 each.

“The new reporting app will also allow residents to notify DENR when a trap has captured birds so teams can respond quickly.

“I want to reassure the public that once chickens are trapped, residents are not required to take any further action. You are not expected to handle or euthanise the birds.

“Simply notify DENR through the app or by phone, and trained officers will retrieve and address the animals.”

In response to questions from Robin Tucker, the Shadow Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, Mr Adams said there would not be a subsidy for those who want traps but are financially constrained.

He said that the traps were being sold at cost, and those who cannot afford the $100 traps could participate in other ways.

He said: “If they are unable to afford the traps, there are other ways like the mobile app, like notifying DENR on how to address those chickens.

“It’s not solely focused on the traps.”

Asked how reports through the app would improve service compared with the hotline already in place, Mr Adams noted the additional resources to the DENR.

Ms Tucker went on to question what steps would be taken to discourage the public from feeding the feral chickens.

Mr Adams said: “Part of the issue we find is a lack of education on the impact of feeding the pigeons and the chickens.

“There will be an added campaign countrywide to educate and inform the public the ramifications of said behaviour.”

However, the minister said that the Government was not considering penalties for feeding feral chickens.

Ms Tucker subsequently issued a statement on the matter.

She said: “After speaking publicly to the feral chicken issue for approximately three years, I was glad to hear in the House today that the Government is taking steps to address it.”

However, she called the response “piecemeal and reactive”.

She added: “The Government’s plan to sell traps at $100 each and launch an app for residents to report feral chickens is a step, but is a half‑measure that shifts responsibility on to residents instead of delivering a co-ordinated national response.

“While there is some positive movement, the Government continues to band-aid this longstanding issue, leaving farmers and communities continuing to fend for themselves, and with no disincentive for residents who encourage the sustainability of the feral chicken population.”

Tom Wadson, a farmer, said yesterday that action to address feral chickens was appreciated, but questioned if it was too little too late.

Mr Wadson said that between feral chickens and rats, pests have put growing pressure on farmers, stating that he had heard estimates that there were as many as 200,000 feral chickens on the island.

He said: “They are just killing us. I am already spending a day a week trapping chickens right now and I’m not really getting anywhere.”

Mr Wadson said that given the scale of the issue, the Government should give traps to farmers rather than sell them, stating that he is already spending almost $500 a month on rat poison.

He said: “This thing is serious. We have entire fields just torn apart.

“You could not believe how quick it happens and how after eight weeks of preparing a crop they march up there like soldiers.”

He said that plans to hire another two contractors was a positive step, along with promises to collect the trapped chickens.

Mr Wadson: “Some people are trapping the chickens now, but the problem is they have no idea where to put them, so they take them up road into another person’s yard.”

• To read the full statement from Jaché Adams, see Related Media

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