Why Arent Seagulls Considered As Pests

[roadman]

Seagulls are vicious and have lots of numbers why cant we cull them

[rowanwitch]

While some species are down by relatively well inland ( Black headed and herring) overall gull numbers are falling, and the herring gull numbers falling to around 132,000 breeding pair from 750,000. The increased interaction with humans is driven by pressure on both normal habitat ( a rooftop and a cliff ledge look the same to a gull) and depletion of normal food stocks.

Where I live gulls produce a winter spectacle with up to 10,000 flying in and massing on Bartley reservoir as it's the largest winter roost in the midlands. The noise when they leave just before it gets light is amazing, first the herring gulls leave, then the black heads, with greater and lesser blackbacks dotted amongst them. We have also had odd Bonapartes, Mediterranean, and other rarities although I haven't spotted any myself

[Hazlinny]

I know of people who have moved house just to get away from the noise of gulls on the roof .. not to mention the mess they make on parked vehicles with their "pooping".

[douglas9401]

"( a rooftop and a cliff ledge look the same to a gull)"

And this is known how? Maybe they're a winged version of an alternative nomadic caravan using group who reckon the world is theirs to use as they like.

[barry1010]

There are a lot of herring gulls where I live - as far as possible from the sea in the middle of England. They love the open landfill sites and this has contributed significantly to them now being on the red critical list due to falling numbers - they are being poisoned by eating from contaminated landfill. But still the come, seemingly hundreds of them.

[barry1010]

Rowan, I think your reservoir gulls spend their days at the landfill sites near me.

[rowanwitch]

I was trying to make the point that in terms of breeding sites our cities offer equivalent spaces, not making a statement about the ability of a gull to interpret optical data. Please pardon my inexactitude.

[barry1010]

I remember the days when a herring gull was so rarely seen in and around Birmingham folk would say 'must be bad out at sea' on seeing one.

[rowanwitch]

I watch them flying in from across the city, we get them from the whole area, coming in in large flocks and steady streams, they do spend a fair bit of the day on landfills and in parks,

[fiveleaves]

Herring Gulls are in a worrying decline. To me gulls are the sound of the seaside. Enjoy their loud calls and songs.
I sometimes wonder if people actually want any wildlife in Britain. So sorry they may sometimes inconveince you.

[Hazlinny]

Remember a funny incident - I was doing an overnight "sit-in" with an
ill lady - several times I heard her call out my name and, when I went to her room, she was sound asleep. What sounded like her calling "Ann" was a gull on the roof crying "Aahn, aahn"!

[barry1010]

Costing thousands of pounds to repair damage, thousands more to install a deterrent and having to dodge the attacks from the air every summer is not an inconvenience, it is a very real problem. That's without taking the very real risk to health in to account. Some people have to stop their children playing in the garden because the gulls are so aggressive.

[MissTerious2]

I'm with five leaves, dive girl, and Lankeela on this. I don't believe humans are more important than other animal life, we have just developed more mentally, but we haven't used our brains wisely. We have ruined the planet. So what If a seagull poos on your car. Just wash it off. And if people move to seaside they should expect gulls. I find gulls amusing too. If gulls scavenge on human waste, who is to blame?Not the gulls!

[douglas9401]

Aye, MissTerious, but we've established that they're not seagulls and are everywhere so the seaside thing doesn't really work.

[fiveleaves]

When was the last time anyone was killed by a gull?
I have lived by the sea most of my life and never had a problem with them.
They are not vicious, the worse that may happen is they might steal some of your chips. So what.
How sad their are animals around that might occasionally infer with your perfect, utterly self centred lives.

[Atheist]

Perhaps if we learned to catch, pen and slaughter and eat them we might feel more comfortable. It's a good job cows don't fly!

[barry1010]

Fiveleaves, did you read my link about the man attacked by a gull? They can be vicious and the damage they cause can be a lot worse than bird poo on the car.

[Sam1960]

Might have something to do with the fact that gulls are a protected species !! And I think the burgers know it

[roadman]

They are vicious they are a big threat to our puffin numbers i prefer puffin to the gulls cull the gull you say they are in decline its because they all go to london to feed from the tourism they are plentiful in number trust me on that one

[murraymints]

the nests and eggs are removed from rooftops etc in the local town of Musselburgh..a cherry picker and men in protective hats..clothing go up every year to remove them..it used to be downright dangerous with gulls swooping down and ttacking people and pets !

[pastafreak]

They nest in the rooftops of flats that I frequently pass. They divebomb and swoop down, and that can feel a bit scary and intimidating. I always feel targeted as they focus...I think...on my hair colour. I'd not want them culled though.