Anyone who has ever visited the seaside knows these birds are more than pests – they are an absolute menace! But why are seagulls pests? The answer is simple. These birds are irritating, noisy, and constantly harass tourists for food. Seagull pests also breed rapidly, which is why you see them in such huge numbers.
The government has made it illegal to kill these birds. Seagulls are considered a protected species. This means there is very little we can do about flocks of predatory seagulls. But while seagulls are bad enough, what’s even more troubling is that they are starting to become more of a nuisance inland.
Seagull are pests when they move into urban areas
Are these birds really such a pest when the come into our neighbourhoods, even if temporarily? Many people think so. But why are they abandoning their seaside homes for a less coastal setting? One reason is the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdown worsens seagull problems by all accounts.
These birds mostly survive by scavenging food from people who visit the seaside. With reduced tourist numbers – and the closure of seaside takeaways and restaurants – gulls are often struggling to find food. This is forcing them to move further inland in search of something to eat.
Along with this, you have overfishing. Many coastal areas are heavily overfished, and this is making it more and more difficult for seagulls to find food. Ultimately, this has also contributed to them them coming inland. Add to this the abundance of waste material available to them in urban landfill sites. With very little competition from other creatures and an all you can eat 24/7 buffet from litter, rubbish bins and landfills, what’s not to like about the London lifestyle?
Other reasons seagull pests are coming inland
Seagulls are also moving inland due to the absence of predators in urban areas. These more built up places are relatively free from predators like birds of prey. And there are definitely no sharks!
The final reason is because of the lack of availability of nesting sites. Many seaside areas are heavily developed, and this makes it hard for these birds to find safe nesting areas. Hence they are moving inland.
The bottom line is that these birds are now harassing people all over the country. They can cause damage to property both commercial and residential. Like pigeons, their droppings are a heath risk. Not to mention the mess they create. They also make a lot of noise. Are seagulls pests? Unfortunately, yes. And with more of these birds moving to towns and cities, we can expect this problem to grow in coming years.