Bird gel repellents, also known as avian adhesive gel repellents, are used to deter birds from roosting, perching, and nesting on surfaces in areas such as parking lots, buildings, and parks.

The gel repellent is a tacky material that is dispensed in small trays or directly onto a surface in areas where bird faeces are considered unpleasant or a hazard. Bird gel repellents are intended to work by causing the birds discomfort after their feet touch the tacky material. Sometimes, the material will have chemicals added to create a skin irritation for further repellent effect.

Bird gel repellents are not intended to trap or hold the birds, impede their ability to fly, hop, eat, or drink, or compromise their feather condition.

These products are marketed as safe. They are exempt from regulation which would prohibit or restrict their use since they are not intended to trap animals and because they are not considered to cause unnecessary or unreasonable pain or distress to wildlife.

Unfortunately, there have been ongoing reports in 2009, 2011, 2021, 2023, 2024, and in 2025 where birds were captured, injured, and killed when coming into contact with bird gel repellents. In each of these cases, birds were severely injured or killed after the gel repellent covered their wings, heads, and feet leaving them unable to move.

SPCA does not consider bird gel repellents a humane option of pest management for the birds that are harmed.

SPCA advocates for greater regulatory oversight for bird gel repellents

In August of 2025, SPCA submitted on the public consultation on amendments to the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) (Exemptions and Prohibited Substances) Regulations 2011 to draw attention to the welfare problems with bird gel repellents. Under the ACVM regulations, bird gel repellents are considered fit for purpose for exemption from registration because they are not “toxic to animals treated with or exposed to the compound to an extent that causes unnecessary or unreasonable pain or distress”.

In our submission, we advocated for bird gel repellents to be removed from the list of compounds exempt from registration under the ACVM Regulations due to the severe welfare harms birds experience from these products.

We wrote to Minister Hoggard who is the Minister for Food Safety (responsible for the ACVM Regulations) and Animal Welfare to alert him to our submission and the problems we are seeing with bird gel repellents. We also wrote to the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) to inform them of our submission and our letter to Minister Hoggard.

SPCA wants stricter controls of bird gel repellents due to the severe welfare harm they cause birds, including injury, distress, and prolonged time to death. Advocating for stricter regulation of bird gel repellents will take time. But you can help reduce the harm from these products.

Whilst we work on the longer-term process for achieving regulatory reform, we need the public’s help with getting the word out that bird gel repellents cause harm.

SPCA encourages any person who has seen or found birds that are injured or killed from coming in contact with bird gel repellents to report the incident to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). It is important that they are made aware of when birds or other animals are injured or killed from gel repellents.

Click on the button on this page to report birds or other animals injured or killed by bird gel repellents