Amendments to firearms legislation aimed at decreasing the number of feral chickens on the Island have been approved in the House of Assembly

The Firearms Amendment No 2 Act 2013, tabled by Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley on Friday, allows the Commissioner of Police to issue year-long licences for firearms to be used for pest control — specifically the targeting of chickens and pigeons.

Under existing legislation, the Commissioner can only issue 60-day licences.

“Recreational gardeners and commercial gardeners can all attest to the havoc caused by the growing number of free-roaming wild chickens and pigeons,” he said. “The regulated use of air rifles has proven critical in managing these pests, which are very difficult to control under any other means.”

The House of Assembly heard the legislation does not limit the number of licences that can be issued, but currently there are only five licence holders.

Environment Minister Sylvan Richards said the issue of feral chickens is a vexing one, with an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 chickens running loose across the Island.

He said the Ministry received between four and six online requests for cullings per week and, since August of 2011, a total of 12,137 chickens have been killed.

Progressive Labour Party MP Rolfe Commission, however, joked that the Island might be fighting a losing battle, noting an outdoor press conference held by PLP MP Michael Weeks on the issue was promptly interrupted by a group feral chickens.

“The war on drugs have not been successful, and I doubt that the war against chickens will be either,” he said. “I just hope that your political career is not contingent on you winning this war, because we would hate to lose you.”

Other MPs agreed that the feral chicken population on the Island was increasingly problematic, but Independent MP Terry Lister said the legislation would not do anything to resolve the issue, only making it more convenient for those licenced.

“We need something to be done about the feral chickens, and that’s not this bill,” he said.

Shadow Health Minister Zane DeSilva suggested paying per head for the chickens, while Opposition Leader Marc Bean suggested incorporating the birds into the Island’s agricultural strategy.

Progressive Labour Party MP Dennis Lister said Government must also make strides to tackle the Island’s feral cat population, saying: “The cat problem is getting just as bad as the chicken problem, and worse in some areas. I think we should use the same approach on the cats, and not just the chickens and pigeons.”

OBA MP Suzann Holshouser, however, said the feral cat problem has been caused because, unlike dogs, there are very few controls on the ownership of the animals, saying: “Right now people feel quite happy just letting their cats go and having organisations like The Bermuda Feline Assistance Bureau deal with it.”

Mr Dunkley closed the debate by saying that the MPs suggestions would be taken on board.