Pigeons targeted (From Stroud News and Journal)

Pigeons targeted

GUN toting pest controllers prowled Stroud's Merrywalks shopping centre sniping pigeons this week.

Centre manager John Benello confirmed Rentokil had been moving stealthily around the site early last Thursday morning in a bid to reduce the population of the bird famously likened to a "rat with wings".

He told the SNJ: "We're supposed to do pest control. We had complaints from people about pigeons in the centre and tenants complaining about going into the shops. In food shops obviously they don't like it."

He dismissed any safety concerns people may have had glimpsing the airgun-wielding operatives adding police were informed of the covert mission.

"It's for health and safety more than anything. It's not for pleasure, that's for sure," he said. "If we have any problem we will ask them again. We don't have them here every week."

Confirming the avian ambush, a Rentokil spokesman would only say: "We were called into Merrywalks Shopping Centre to control the pigeon population, which was becoming a serious health hazard to the stores and the public.

"The layout of the site ruled out trapping and after serious consideration the decision was taken to cull.

"It was carried out by experts who took every precaution to ensure that it was done in a safe and controlled manner."

According to the company's website feral pigeons are "wide spread throughout the country and can be a serious pest in towns and cities".

"Nesting on buildings and ledges, they cause large amounts of fouling and damage to buildings and vehicles. Droppings can also make pavements, steps and external fire escapes slippery. Pigeons can transmit Salmonella food poisoning, ornithosis and fowl pest."