Residents were urged not to obstruct workers in the process of official duties related to the management and control of feral chickens.

The appeal came after a member of the public “directly interfered with” a public officer involved in handling the birds, a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Works and Environment said.

As part of established animal control procedures, the spokesman said that feral chickens are sedated, collected, humanely culled and prepared for disposal at the Tynes Bay Incinerator.

The measures are deemed essential to reduce the significant environmental, public health and agricultural impacts caused by unmanaged feral chicken populations across the island, he added.

The spokesman said: “Interference with these operations poses serious risks to both public officers and the animals involved.

“When members of the public attempt to intervene — particularly by trying to retrieve sedated chickens with the intention of reviving them — public officers are forced to alter standard protocols to prevent the unauthorised removal of sedated animals.”

The intervention disrupts established animal welfare procedures and may also compromise the safety and effectiveness of the environment and natural resources department’s culling programme, the spokesman said.

“The latest data shows that in the past 30 days, 1,567 feral chickens have been removed,” he added.

Resident were reminded residents that obstructing an officer in the execution of their official duties is an offence.

As such, the public were urged to respect the work being undertaken to manage feral chicken populations in a “safe, humane and responsible manner”.

The DENR will continue to monitor feral chicken activity and carry out control measures as necessary, the spokesman said.

Residents were also urged to report concerns through the normal channels and to avoid direct involvement in wildlife management operations.

• For more information on feral chicken removal, visit gov.bm/feralchickens or e-mail feralchickens@gov.bm