Gulls hazard

[Deleted User]

One of our neighbours has a seagull problem – they live in their own private bungalow with a flat roof and they have solar panels at a 30 degree angle mounted on the roof.

Gulls have made their home under the panels – they fly around and poo everywhere – they constantly squawk and are a public health hazard...

Is there any point in complaining to the council ?

Is there anything that anyone can do to stop this menace ?

I believe that Gulls are a protected species .

Apodemus

Best solution might be to net the roof to keep the gulls off.  It's unlikely that the Council would be able to help. 

[Deleted User]

Apodemus said:

Best solution might be to net the roof to keep the gulls off.  It's unlikely that the Council would be able to help. 

But the gulls would probably get their poor little claws caught

In any case - the bungalow owner would need convincing to do this - at the moment, they don't seem to worry/care - although their solar panels are encrusted in gull poo

theonlywayisup

Deleted_User said:

One of our neighbours has a seagull problem

Deleted_User said:

Apodemus said:

Best solution might be to net the roof to keep the gulls off.  It's unlikely that the Council would be able to help. 

In any case - the bungalow owner would need convincing to do this - at the moment, they don't seem to worry/care - although their solar panels are encrusted in gull poo

Do your neighbours have the problem or is it a case of the issue causing problems for others?

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/advice-on-how-to-deal-with-problem-seagulls

twopenny

Have you dropped into conversation with your neighbours that they will not get their electricity benefit because of the gulls. Be sympathetic, say it must be a worry. See what they say.

It seems odd that they aren't concerned.

And gulls on a flat roof must be noisy especially when breeding and the youngster.

Rosa_Damascena

Are gulls really protected? They can be quite vicious and a menace to other animals / small children I hear.

The local seagulls look like they have been grazing on anabolic steroids, thanks to inconsiderate day-trippers.

Andy_L

Rosa_Damascena said:

Are gulls really protected? They can be quite vicious and a menace to other animals / small children I hear.

The local seagulls look like they have been grazing on anabolic steroids, thanks to inconsiderate day-trippers.

They're protected in the sense that you need a licence to kill all birds not that you can't kill them at all like a "protected species".

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/general-licences-for-wildlife-management#birds

molerat

My council will come and remove nests FOC n certain areas, part of a project to rid the town of the gull menace - obviously can't do it if there are eggs or live young.  I remember a local company getting into trouble when they had their roof cleaned as they were hosing nests with chicks off.

Rosa_Damascena

Andy_L said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

Are gulls really protected? They can be quite vicious and a menace to other animals / small children I hear.

The local seagulls look like they have been grazing on anabolic steroids, thanks to inconsiderate day-trippers.

They're protected in the sense that you need a licence to kill all birds not that you can't kill them at all like a "protected species".

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/general-licences-for-wildlife-management#birds

Thanks.

Not that I would wish to kill them (under any circumstances)!

[Deleted User]

 https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/seagulls-dont-deserve-to-be-protected
Confirms what many people feel

twopenny

I don't agree with what I read of that article. Herring gulls were seriously declining. However that was a long time ago and protection has increased their numbers.

The problem is that they have been bought inland by the amount of food being dumped in bins, increase in industrial estates and supermarkets with roofs and bins with food in them.

During the first lockdown and I live on the coast, when their no people hanging around eating in the streets, take away food, or loitering and eating in supermarket car parks the gulls all went back to sea and lived on a natural diet. Not a one to be seen.

When I was creating a garden with plants from the supermarket encased in polythene the gulls would head for that thinking it was food.

When the country opened for people to buy takeaway they returned.

They have found flat safe roofs and perfect nesting places close to easy food. People need to put up deterrant devices and stop dumping half eaten food.