As the breeding season approaches, Cardiff Council is offering support and advice to residents to help minimise seagull nuisance.
Some people experience problems with gulls because they may:
- Make a lot of noise
- Nest on roofs
- Make swooping “attacks” to protect their young
- Snatch food from people
There are also no natural predators of these birds, and very little disturbance to their habitat helping them to thrive.
Cardiff Council’s head of Regulatory and Supporting Services, Dave Holland, said:”They can be a nuisance but they are protected. Nevertheless, we do take the issue seriously and offer advice and guidance, as well as taking some practical measures to mitigate any nuisance the gulls may cause.”
Gulls and the law
Gulls are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 although licences can be issued allowing landowners or occupiers to manage certain species or destroy their nests and eggs in order to:
- Prevent serious damage to agriculture
- Preserve public health/air safety
- Conserve other wild birds
But, even in these circumstances, it’s illegal to do anything that will cause suffering to gulls. There are also restrictions on the method of managing the gull population e.g. poisons are prohibited except under special license.
How can Gull nuisance be minimised?
Gulls are attracted to urban areas where food is easily available. The problem can be minimised by:
- Disposing food waste in caddies
- Avoiding putting out excessive amounts of food for wild birds in the garden. Gulls will return year-after-year to areas where they find food and will scare off other birds.
- Discouraging people from dropping food litter on the floor (note: this is an offence and the person committing the offence may be liable for a penalty)
How do I prevent Gulls from nesting on my roof?
Studies show that, once established, breeding birds continue to return to specific sites year after year. If a building owner/ occupier is suffering from seagull nuisance, they should arrange for their roof to be inspected by an appropriately competent and skilled person. If gulls are nesting, there are various options for preventing future nesting:
- Putting appropriate netting on chimney heads, flat roof areas, etc.
- Using a simple wire system made on a frame that fits into the area the birds are using, for example, between the chimney pots.
- By removing nests, the eggs or by replacing eggs which have been laid. The replacement of eggs with plastic imitations is possibly the most effective method of control once nests have been built, as removal may result in another nest being built and more eggs laid. The birds sit on imitation eggs until it is too late to lay anymore and they are less aggressive as they have no young to protect or feed.
- Cardiff Council’s Pest Control Section offers an egg replacement service at commercial premises with accessible roofs that have nesting gulls. For further information or to obtain a quote please contact Pest Control on 029 2087 2934. Unfortunately, we do not provide a service for domestic properties but there are numerous private companies that can offer nest removal and property proofing.
Gulls in distress
Remember, if you see a gull chick – usually mottled brown and grey in colour – leave it alone. It probably doesn’t need rescuing, unless it is obviously injured.
If you see an injured gull, contact the RSPCA 24-hour cruelty and advice line on 0870 55 55 999.
For further advice
Before undertaking any action it’s recommended that you seek expert advice on current legislation from DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) on 0207 904 6000 or visit: www.defra.gov.uk
You can also contact the Welsh Assembly Government for further information on ’Wildlife and Countryside Act Licenses’ on 0845 010 300 or visit www.wales.gov.uk
