Wily ‘Smeagull’ new wildlife refuge mascot

WESTBROOK — Smeagull the Seagull, probably the most famous herring gull on the Shoreline, and an avid connoisseur of fine seafood, is about to gain even more notoriety.

The 17-year-old gull has a new role — as mascot for the Stewart McKinney Wildlife Refuge on his new website, smeagullsguide.org.

Smeagull is the “Smokey the Bear” of Salt Meadow Marsh, according to author and wildlife conservationist Mark Lender, who co-wrote “Smeagull the Seagull,” a children’s book featuring the wily seagull, with his wife, Valerie Elaine Pettis, a graphic artist and illustrator.

The award-winning book was published in 2018. Lender is a wildlife writer/photographer who is featured on Living on Earth segments broadcast weekly on over 250 public radio stations.

As it happens, the real Smeagull spends his days near the wildlife refuge at Salt Meadow Marsh — when he is not mooching morsels of fish (a delicacy sourced from a high-end fish purveyor) from Lender. He shows up at Lender’s patio door and insistently taps his beak on the glass daily — just like clockwork, he said.

“Just before the hurricane — he came twice — just to make sure he tanked up,” Lender said with a laugh.

Smeagull is one smart bird, as he figured out quickly that Lender was his meal ticket and learned how to train his humans, he said.

“He figured it out on his own that glass is transparent and solid, and you can knock on it with your beak and sound like a human, and they’ll come running. And we do,” Lender said.

Sometimes he’s been fooled into thinking someone was actually at his front door, he added.

Lender cheerfully acknowledges that he plans on being Smeagull’s care

Mark Seth Lender / Contributed photo Smeagull hovers just outside the door.