Feral animals a growing menace

The rocketing number of feral animals roaming around Bermuda could spell disaster for native fauna and flora.

Conservationists say the rising tide of feral chickens, cats and pigeons is having a dramatic impact on wildlife and endemic bird species as well as a devastating effect on farmers’ crops.

And they have called for stronger laws to prevent residents feeding feral animals and releasing unwanted pets into the wild.

The call comes as the islandwide cull of feral chickens came under the spotlight again this week, with the SPCA urging Conservation Services to review its procedures.

Former conservation officer David Wingate, told the Bermuda Sun that feral chickens continued to devastate crops, while feral pigeons threatened the cliff hole nesting sites of Longtails.

He said cat numbers had now also reached ‘crisis point’ and legislation was needed to address the problem.

Mr Wingate added:  “I consider the feral animal problem to be a very serious one in Bermuda, largely because of the exceptional vulnerability of Oceanic islands in general.

“Indeed pre-colonial Bermuda  was so vulnerable that the majority of its native species were brought to extinction within a couple of decades of human settlement.

“What little survived did so because of fortuitous circumstances like the small islets which spared a few Cahows from the introduced mammal predators, or because of special adaptations such as cliff nesting by Longtails or tree nesting by our endemic vireo.

“Without careful vetting and controls on animal and plant introductions the risk of new invasives that could cause the extinction of the remaining native fauna are very, very great because of our modern global economy and the tremendous number of people and goods visiting or being shipped to Bermuda.”

Mr Wingate said the issue of tackling the prickly issue of feral animals was not taken ‘nearly seriously enough’.

He added: “There are many species in the pet trade or prone to hitch hike in cargo that we don’t yet have which might easily get here and once established become impossible to eradicate.

“If snakes, or swimming mammal predators got established here the security of the cliff and offshore islet nesters would ultimately be compromised as well.

“The best and cheapest policy against invasive species is to prevent them from establishing in the first place by strict vetting and quarantine.”

Environmentalist Stuart Hayward added: “Feral chickens, cats and pigeons are increasing faster than we can cull them.

“And in Bermuda they have no predators that might moderate their population growth.

“Cats prey on the young of birds like bluebirds and lizards, they tear into garbage bags put out for collection, deposit their faeces in garden plots, and can spread diseases and fleas to domesticated cat pets.

“Chickens decimate garden and farm plots – and they too can spread diseases and will peck openings in trash bags.

“Stronger legislation and education to curb or prevent the public from feeding feral animal and discourage people from releasing unwanted cat or chicken pets into the wild is needed.

“Sustained and humane culling programmes are needed for any feral eradication effort to be successful.”

Earlier this week the SPCA raised questions over the feral chicken cull after it came across ‘significant numbers of dead and dying birds’ in the wake of the Government operation.

But yesterday Conservation Services insisted the cull was absolutely necessary and revealed it had received more than 100 requests for assistance from homeowners, schools and charities.

A statement said: “The Department strives to manage this problem as humanely as possible by targeting only feral chickens and when using a sedative bait — not poison as stated in the SPCA press release — as a last recourse, hand feeding under supervision. “The sedative is used when trapping has proven unsuccessful or not feasible.

“The sedative (alpha-chloralose) is fast-acting, painless and any bird who consumes it has a high percentage chance of recovery, dependent on the amount eaten. It is also bird-specific and not very effective on mammals. Bread is purposefully chosen as the bait as it is unlikely to be consumed by threatened species such as blue birds.”