Gull attacks soar as bin collections are scrapped
THeY are the menace of the skies that torment seaside daytrippers.
now complaints about seagulls in Scotland have hit record levels, fuelled by more litter and cuts to bin collections.
Local authorities logged more than 1,200 complaints from January to July this year, double the average over the last three years.
Angus council recorded the highest number of complaints of any authority with more than 1,100 seagull-related issues since 2017 – about one for every 105 people.
Across Scotland there have been dozens of attacks on children, the elderly and pets. The parent of a seven-year-old girl complained that she had the tip of her finger sliced off by a dive-bombing gull.
There have also been more than 150 calls about gulls to police since last year, with the birds even implicated in neighbourhood disputes, assaults and road traffic incidents.
experts say the gulls are moving inland for easier pickings, with some suggesting council spending cuts have meant fewer bin collections and more litter.
Politicians are calling for action to curb the birds, which are protected under law. Dumfriesshire Tory MSP Oliver Mundell said: ‘These shocking figures reveal the growing misery seagulls are causing in many coastal communities.
‘It is about time local authorities stated taking the issue more seriously.’
Last month, Queen of the South fc threatened to eject fans who fed seagulls at its Dumfries stadium after dozens of the birds took up residence on a stand roof.
Dumfries and Galloway council has received almost 400 seagull-related complaints since last year and operates a free gull egg and nest removal program within the Dumfries town area.
Angus council provides a similar service, but a spokesman warned: ‘Once eggs hatch and gulls start swooping to protect their chicks, we cannot take action.’
The next-highest number of complaints came in Aberdeen, where there have been more than 400 incidents in the past three years, and South Ayrshire, with 380.
Aberdeen city council said: ‘Life has become very easy for urban gulls due to the discarding of food, particularly in the city centre, and people deliberately feeding them.’ South Ayrshire council said: ‘We have an active feed A Bin, not A Gull campaign to persuade the public and traders to reduce availability of food.’
Steve Milton, of Total Bird control, said: ‘It’s easy to feed off scraps lying around in urban areas – it’s less work than looking for their traditional food.’
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said: ‘Gulls are attracted to urban areas by the unintended provision by humans of good nesting sites and available food waste.
‘Outwith the breeding season, councils can take steps to reduce the number of nesting sites.’