It’s after around 15 birds became trapped in “deterrent” netting in a car park behind the St. Nicholas Centre.
The charity was contacted by shoppers at the end of last year with the car park owner saying the netting would be removed this month.
The RSPCA says netting does not deter pigeons and is just trapping and killing them and companies should not use it.
RPSCA Inspector Liz Wheeler says around 15 pigeons have been trapped in the high netting in a car park behind the store in St. Nicholas Way and have since perished since the problem was first reported at the end of last year.
She’s issued this statement.
“I’ve been back to the location since the first reports at the end of December last year and there are more dead pigeons hanging from the netting. It is distressing to see as they have been left to decompose. The netting is no longer of any use to deter pigeons and is just trapping and killing them. It needs to be taken down now”.
“Problems can arise when netting is installed without a regular maintenance contract in place, is put up incorrectly, becomes damaged or there are gaps where birds can enter and become trapped like these pigeons have done,” added the inspector.
“We receive around 2,000 reports every year about wild birds trapped in or behind netting, with a large number involving bird-deterrent netting.”
If anyone spots locations where birds are regularly becoming trapped in netting, the RSPCA can intervene.
Those who are worried need to forward the address of the building, details of the property owner (if known) and date of the incident to wildlife@rspca.org.uk
The RSPCA can then write to the owner with advice and guidance about resolving the issue.
If you see a live animal, as well as birds, entangled in or trapped in netting you can contact the RSPCA’s cruelty and advice helpline on 0300 1234 999.
