Eye-watering weapon to solve problem of feathered pests

A red-hot weapon has been unveiled in the fight against problem birds — chilli extract which sticks to birds’ feet, then gives them a spicy surprise when they tuck them up next to their genitals.

The gel-like substance, unveiled by Rentokil Pest Control, is hoped to turn up the heat on the fight against unwanted colonies of pigeons, gulls and other feathered pests with what is described as “humane and effective solution”.

Large numbers of birds in urban areas can cause problems with fouling, and can spread diseases such as ornithosis, an infectious disease that can be transmitted to humans and other mammals; and cryptococcosis, a potentially fatal fungal disease.