Furtastic Series Banner

People are putting anti-bird spikes on trees to protect their fancy cars and humanity has hit an all-time low

Ugh.
 By 
Rachel Thompson
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Brits are raging after residents of Clifton, Bristol, fitted anti-bird spikes on trees in order to protect their cars from droppings.

The spikes — which are sometimes fitted to buildings to prevent birds from nesting — have been nailed to two trees in the front garden of private properties in an affluent area of the city in south west England.

Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Shocked Brits have flocked to Twitter to express their rage at the move.

Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

"The human race may have reached new lows with this... If the earth decided to swallow us all, it would probably be quite fair actually (and a bit overdue!)," tweeted one person.

Some expressed their horror at the image, which they felt said spoke volumes about our society.

Many wondered what it was that made the residents' cars so worthy of protection.

Some felt that the move was akin to something a movie villain would do.

And, others suggested exacting revenge on the people who fitted the spikes to the trees.

SMDH.

Topics Animals

Rachel Thompson, sits wearing a dress with yellow florals and black background.
Rachel Thompson
Features Editor

Rachel Thompson is the Features Editor at Mashable. Rachel's second non-fiction book The Love Fix: Reclaiming Intimacy in a Disconnected World is out now, published by Penguin Random House in Jan. 2025. The Love Fix explores why dating feels so hard right now, why we experience difficult emotions in the realm of love, and how we can change our dating culture for the better.

A leading sex and dating writer in the UK, Rachel has written for GQ, The Guardian, The Sunday Times Style, The Telegraph, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Stylist, ELLE, The i Paper, Refinery29, and many more.

Rachel's first book Rough: How Violence Has Found Its Way Into the Bedroom And What We Can Do About It, a non-fiction investigation into sexual violence was published by Penguin Random House in 2021.

Mashable Potato

More from Furtastic

Recommended For You
The bright and colorful Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees set is $10 off at Amazon
lego botanicals mini bonsai trees set against a pink and purple patterned background

How creators can protect their identity in an age of AI clones
woman with doodles and color streaks on face

The DJI Mini 5 Pro drone has hit a record-low price — save $500 at Amazon
DJI drone on Mashable background


Bumble failed to protect user data in ShinyHunters hack, class action suit claims
thumb tapping bumble logo on smartphone

More in Life

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

What's new to streaming this week? (April 3, 2026)
A composite of images from film and TV streaming this week.


NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 2, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!