Noise problems caused by feral chickens are not being taken seriously enough by the Government, the Opposition has insisted.

Robin Tucker, the One Bermuda Alliance senator and home affairs spokeswoman in the Upper House, has said that mechanisms set up for people to report nuisance birds do not function properly.

Ms Tucker said: “You can call the police to report a person disturbing the peace, but when feral roosters are crowing all night, you’re on your own.

“When attempting to report the problem to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the automated response indicates it doesn’t have the resources to assist.

“In addition to disturbing a peaceful night’s sleep, chickens are eating farmers’ fruits and vegetables intended for our tables, and reportedly costing them tens of thousands of dollars in losses.

“In addition, these nuisances are pulling out trash awaiting a weekly pick-up, and contributing to our rodent problem.

“The Feral Chicken Management Plan on the government website is ten years old, so can Minister Roban or the Department of Environment and Natural Resources please let the public know what the plan is to address this longtime problem on the island?

“At the rate that chickens reproduce, the disruption they cause and the destruction to our food supply, ignoring them is simply not an option.”

Walter Roban, the Minister for Home Affairs, acknowledged in the House of Assembly last month that the birds were a serious problem for farmers.

He told MPs: “Everybody knows the problems that feral chickens and birds bring to the environment.

“They are a serious challenge for our agricultural industry. We have tried our best to have a balanced approach to this.

“Yes, there is a culling which is done, and often people hear the shooting. That is a necessary activity, as unpleasant as it may seem.

“We try our best not to use methods that are imposing any poisons into the environment because if you put down some sort of poison for chickens or rats, that can potentially find itself with a dog, or in some way that is unanticipated.”