STOP THE GULL FEEDERS
New signs to discourage the gull feeders
New outdoor signs have been introduced to stop people feeding gulls, in the latest action to combat the danger of food-snatch swoops, with official acknowledgement that the gull problem has grown.
New outdoor signs have been introduced to stop people feeding gulls, in the latest action to combat the danger of food-snatch swoops.
Gulls have become increasingly brazen in recent years, diving on people having picnics on the beach or on people eating a snack.
Children have been among the victims, some left injured or traumatised by the swoops.
The birds’ behaviour has been exacerbated by people actively feeding the gulls or leaving litter and food waste on beaches, and the issue was brought back to the fore by a Scarborough News campaign asking for more action.
Scarborough Borough Council’s signs aim to draw people’s attention to the consequences of feeding actions.
Signs have been erected in high footfall areas along the seafront in Filey and Scarborough, specifically targeting places where people congregate to eat takeaway food and access beaches.
Jonathan Bramley, council environment manager said: “It has become evident that there are a number of factors contributing to the behaviour of the herring gulls.
“While controlling egg and nest numbers to start to bring the herring gull population down to a more manageable number is one solution, we have to tackle one of the biggest problems, which is our human behaviour and how it is teaching the gulls that taking human food is acceptable.”