Gulls

The facts

Herring gulls are large, noisy gulls found throughout the year around our coasts and inland around rubbish tips, fields, large reservoirs and lakes, especially during winter. Adults have light grey backs, white under parts, and black wing tips. Their legs are pink, with webbed feet and they have heavy, slightly hooked bills marked with a red spot. Young birds are mottled brown. They have suffered moderate declines over the past 25 years and over half of their UK breeding population is confined to fewer than ten sites.

Where do Gulls live?

Urban habitats are areas dominated by human activities and human constructions. These include towns, cities and associated landscapes, such as landfill sites. It can almost be described as a patchwork of other habitats where buildings are artifical cliffs, sewers and drains are waterways, and parks, gardens and brownfield sites provide forests and meadows. Animals which have adapted to the urban environment are tolerant of the light and noise generated by human activity, and take advantage of the heat and the abundant food sources.

Why keep Gulls under control?

Herring Gulls hunt fish and other sea creatures but will also take carrion, rubbish, litter and waste food as well as eggs and chicks of other seabirds. They obtain a substantial amount of their food by scavenging and will readily feed on waste food in gardens, streets and refuse tips. Herring Gulls or rather their nesting and feeding habits are one of the major sources of complaint especially during the nesting and fledging period (May - September). The number of gulls breeding on rooftops in the UK is increasing by 30% a year, with the most aggressive behaviour being seen between the months of July and August. Not only can gulls be extremely noisy, there are also an increasing number of reports of these birds attacking people or pets for food, and when protecting their young. Gulls will pick at roofing materials in order to build their large nests. The nests themselves may be in a position to block gutters, vents and chimneys, and are likely to hold moisture against the structure of the building. Not only a nuisance, gulls can present health issues as they often pick-up and transmit E.Coli and other harmful organisms to humans through contact with their droppings. In areas where Herring Gulls are giving rise to significant matters of public health concern feeding of Gulls should be discouraged.

Prevention & Control

All wild birds and their eggs and nests are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; under this Act, birds cannot be taken or killed, and their eggs or nests (when in use or being built) cannot be taken or destroyed except under licence. The best way to prevent, or minimise, the nuisance caused by Gulls is to control where they roost, nest and feed. One way to do this is to ‘gull-proof’ your building. This includes simple tasks like sealing gaps under eaves and replacing missing roof tiles (please remember to remove gulls prior to proofing works). Total proofing against all birds can only be guaranteed by closing all openings bigger than 20mm in diameter. Gulls can be deterred from using common roosting sites such as window ledges and roofs by fitting stainless steel wires at the correct height to prevent the birds from landing. Other deterrents to the gull include barrier gel, spikes, netting and bird repellent gel. Finally, do not put down food to feed the birds nor drop litter (especially food litter).

Treatment

Contact Paramite Pest Solutions if you suspect you may have a problem and we can advise you on the best course of action. A visit by our pest control officer can be arranged, he will carry out a survey. Paramite Pest Solutions will take all possible precautions in the placing of poison baits. Revisits will be made until the problem is cleared.