Pest Control - Gulls (Seagulls)

Note: Adur & Worthing Councils do not offer a pest control service. This page is to offer advice and information only. Please see our pest control homepage for how to find a pest control service.

About gulls

Adur and Worthing's gull population is predominantly made up of herring gulls.

Herring gulls roost and nest on buildings near the coast.

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Lifecycle

Gulls may become aggressive between April and September when incubating eggs and rearing young.

This protective behaviour can result in attacks.

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Protection of birds

All birds, eggs and their nests are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Under this Act birds cannot be taken, killed or their nests or eggs removed except under licence.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) issue a number of general licences which allow authorised persons to take or kill using certain specified methods.

The 1981 Act does not allow action against birds for the prevention of damage to property or nuisance problems, ie noise or smell.

Only non-lethal methods may be used to prevent nuisance problems.

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Control methods

Proofing property so birds cannot roost or nest is probably the most effective means of control as culling will only solve the problem short term and any suitable site will quickly be repopulated.

Plastic spikes and netting fixed to suitable sites should deter gulls and pigeons from roosting and nesting. Regular maintenance is necessary as they will take advantage of any faults.

Pest control companies specialising in bird proofing may be found in the local telephone book or on the internet.

Shooting or trapping can be effective, but to meet with legislation it is recommended that this is only ever carried out by a professional.

See also the following external websites:

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Advice for residents on feeding gulls and feral pigeons

Adur & Worthing Councils have received an increase in complaints of gull and pigeon feeding. On some occasions this has caused friction between neighbours.

Feeding gulls and pigeons encourages them into residential areas where the noise, mess and in the case of gulls, swooping behaviour, can cause distress and nuisance to residents in the locality.

The councils will not normally investigate complaints of bird feeding. We will only get involved if the problem is excessive, ongoing and creating a serious public health risk such as attracting rats and mice. If this is the case, a professional pest control service will be able to confirm whether there is an infestation issue and importantly if it is a result of excessive bird feeding. Their report may then be passed on to us as evidence of any public health risk and we will take appropriate action.

If you have an issue with a neighbour feeding gulls or pigeons regularly, you should try speaking to them as they may not be aware of the issue they are causing.

Whilst it is not specifically against the law to feed any bird, including gulls and pigeons, we strongly encourage people not to do so, because attracting large numbers of them to an area, through regular feeding could amount to anti-social behaviour.

Potential problems:

Gulls and pigeons:

  • They begin breeding in April and start to nest in early May.
  • They can disturb roof tiles and block gutters, flues, chimneys, drains and ventilation.
  • Bird faeces are unsightly and can lead to increased erosion of buildings.
  • Leaving food for them encourages them to stay in that area and when fed regularly they expect everyone to do the same, which can lead to gulls possibly attacking people and stealing food.

Gulls:

  • Loud mating calls and squabbling by gulls can begin at dawn and continue all day, causing noise disturbance to local residents.
  • Breeding gulls continue to return to the same site year after year and can live for up to 30 years. Offspring are just as site tenacious resulting in ongoing annual problems.
  • Gulls with young can be very aggressive and will swoop at people to protect their young; this can be extremely distressing. The young gulls remain on the ground for a lengthy period before flying and tend to settle in a garden or area.
  • Urban gulls can come into conflict with humans and be put at risk of injury or death either accidentally or through deliberate persecution.

Preventative measures:

  • Do not drop litter or food scraps in public spaces, this is an offence and can lead to a fixed penalty notice for littering as well as encouraging gulls into the area.
  • Be a considerate neighbour and do not attract gulls or pigeons by feeding them.
  • Use bird feeders when feeding other small bird species as gulls and pigeons cannot feed from them.
  • Ensure household waste is disposed of properly and is secured within bins to prevent gulls accessing waste and feeding off scraps.
  • The best deterrent against nesting gulls and pigeons are devices such as spikes, nets or wires installed on roofs to prevent them from landing and constructing nests.
  • If gulls and pigeons do nest on your property you can arrange for eggs to be oiled or replaced with china eggs; this is more effective than removing nests as gulls will just remake and relay.

Safety:

It is strongly recommended you take advice from specialists before taking any action, to ensure you remain within the law and that any deterrent works do not pose a fire risk or safety hazard.

See:

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Page last updated: 23 August 2024

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