Why are seagulls such a pain?!

[Fillyfrog]

I actually think seagulls are the bane of most seaside resorts. We went to Llandudno in north Wales today, it's such a lovely place and been a favourite for many years. But today the seagulls were so awful, I saw countless people getting their food stolen from them to the point where instead of risking to eat our picnic on the front we ate it in the car! Some of the gulls are absolutely massive, I saw one steal a full ice cream from a toddler in her pram and I feel like it must have hurt, she was beside herself. They seemed worse than any other time I've been there.

Why do they do this? Do they not have enough food to eat? I know tourists must drop litter and food etc and I often think of seagulls like, eating some chips someone's dropped on the floor but when did it evolve to swooping in for people's sandwiches?! I can't imagine living somewhere seasidey with them there all the time 🙈

(light hearted thread)

Hope it works this time

I give up!

Blackpool Zoo has it under control…. 😂

https://www.blackpoolzoo.org.uk/jobs/work-with-us/seagull-deterrant

🤣🤣🤣 I love this

@TheWomanTheyCallJayne the birds in that photo are greater black back gulls, not herring gulls (regular seagulls). Greater black backs are far bigger and much more aggressive.

I reckon gulls would be very sweary bastards

We have gulls around here, but they don’t really attack anyone. They are small so it makes me wonder if they are kittiwakes

We are plagued my pigeons but again, apart from sitting down by your feet pecking the floor for crumbs, they don’t bother you

Was sat on the seafront in Falmouth last night, and a couple put their fish and chip remains out for the seagulls. They place was covered in gulls within minutes. There are signs saying not to feed for a reason, but people will ignore and it creates an issue. Ultima they will go where people are stupid enough to feed them.

This is amusing since I imagine them to have more of a one word vocab - like the seagulls in Finding Nemo!

I read an article recently saying that Blackpool zoo was going to employ a few people dressed as seagulls to hang around the cafe areas and chase the seagulls away this summer. I don't think it was April the first?! Tbf, that's the first place we've had an issue (and we live in the area) with one stealing my LOs biscuit (I stupidly didn't think to watch when giving her one because we've not had an issue before). She talked (and cried) about it for days after! I guess we were lucky it just took it quickly because I had a friend who tried to defend her kid's food from a seagull and she discovered that one of their tactics is to vomit on you 🤢

I've since discovered that they can kill and eat (whole) rabbits, rats, pigeons, puffins... All sorts. They're formidable predators. Sure, everything has its job, but it's hard to find much to like about them! I suppose the look pretty when they're flying in the sky (far away from anyone!)

Talking about zoos though. There is that video of the monkey at Chester zoo to even things out a bit.

They might be out of hand in towns but generally numbers are going down so nobody would be able to cull them. The alternative is way more problematic though and would involve spending money on more effective deterrents and/or ensuring there was a more natural food source for them to return to and relocating them 🤷🏼‍♀️ Think we're stuck with them!

It's not just coastal towns that are plagued with seagulls! I live in a city and we have a tip nearby. I've heard seagulls screeching at 2am, they're everywhere. When my DC were at primary school, there was a case of a seagull swooping down to the playground and stealing a sandwich from a child's hand. They weren't allowed snacks outdoors after that. (The children, not the seagulls) 🤣

You've obviously never met an Aberdonian Herring Gull.

https://teuchter.co.uk/2019/01/13/facts-about-aberdeens-infamous-seagulls/

I can't stand them as they are literally an alarm for my son to wake up in the morning... which is fine in the winter but when the little fuckers start screeching at 4am daybreak in the summer- not so fun.

Also- I'm pretty sure they are taunting me- my name is Clare, and they Shout "Clare, Clare, Clare HAHAHAHA" seriously, listen out when you're next at the seaside.

Well I saw one eating another dead seagull today. They don't even care about their own!

I do wish people wouldn't ascribe human ethics and emotions to other species... Disney has a lot to answer for.

It was tongue in cheek!

Herring gulls are in decline in non urban settings hence they are protected.
Councils used to get licences to prick the eggs in problem spots but with funding cuts this has mostly stopped so the urban populations have risen in coastal towns.

They are pretty ballsy in Aberdeen when I have been in and will swoop on peoples heads but they are also very intelligent so if they learn swooping at a person gets them food then they repeat the behaviour!

I don't mind them but do have to plan a walk with the dog as we just get bombarded if accidently near a nest!

Ah sorry, I have a tendency to take things literally. Apologies!

@moggerhanger @BigButtons I love animals. If we could coexist like most other animals then I'm fine. But they're becoming dangerous , and attacking people. I don't kill spiders in my house or hate any other animals I look after any animal I can so I don't agree im the bad guy. Rats overpopulate humans but I can guarantee everyone who disliked my view on seagulls would kill rats if they were in your home.

They are not nearly as dangerous as us.

As someone who lives in a seaside town in Cornwall I can confirm it's the tourist who feed them, they have created the issues we have now.
Every summer, half term, Easter and every other possible holiday, I watch countless people on holiday throwing their food at the seagulls and finding it amusing. What these people don't understand is that they have taught them that we are a food source. We literally are the hands that feed them. And it's a blinking nightmare for the locals. We have signs everywhere saying not to feed them due to several incidents of attacks on local kids and the signs are just ignored.
Now, I don't think we need a culling, and everyone who says they have a right to be here is 100% correct but we need to stop willingly feeding them!

@ElmTree22 absolutely, agree with you.

We have a seagull who is always on our roof. my DS has given it a nickname called Steve.
Probably not the same gull but my DS thinks it is.
The thing is our new neighbour is called Steve so when ever my DS sees the seagull he shouts out, hi Steve, how are things. If my neighbour is about he will say hi to my DS/me and then says, all fine thanks but still got my back problem. 😉

I once saw one with a pigeon in its beak-Rhyl.