Local authority urged to resist gull cull

ANY attempts to cull Fife’s gull population would be “ludicrous”, an animal rights group has claimed.

Animal Aid has written to Fife Council calling on it to resist calls for a so-called “gull cull”, claiming the birds are only acting out of instinct.

It follows several reports this summer of members of the public being attacked by avian assailants, prompting calls for their numbers to be controlled.

However, in a letter to senior council officials, Animal Aid campaigner Tod Bradbury said a cull would be an overreaction by the local authority.

“Like all good parents, gulls will do anything to ensure their offspring are safe and protected,” he said.

“As such, during nesting season, which happens to also coincide with many people’s summer holidays, gulls will ensure that any perceived threat to their children is seen off.

“To cull animals for protecting their babies is ludicrous.”

Earlier this month, Fife Council’s environment convener, Ross Vettraino, said “every possibility” would be investigated in a bid to protect the public from aggressive birds.

However, it is thought that a cull would only be considered as a last resort.

As a protected species, a mass cull of gulls cannot take place without special dispensation.