Council urges public not to feed gulls
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ROSS-SHIRE residents are being advised not to feed seagulls in a bid to curtail the "misery" which the birds can caused the public throughout the nesting season.
The advice comes from the Highland Council as relaunches its campaign to raise awareness of the problem of seagulls nesting in Highland urban areas.
In particular, the council is seeking the co-operation of the public in eradicating the food sources which attract gulls by discouraging people from feeding gulls at home and in parks and other open spaces.
Businesses are asked to ensure that litter and other food waste is properly stored in closed bins.
The council says while it has no statutory duty to take action against gulls, it recognises the misery that gulls can cause the public throughout the nesting season.
"There is no easy answer to dealing with the gull problem," said Councillor John Laing, chairman of the council’s TEC Services committee.
"However the situation could be made a whole lot better by taking up some of the suggested measures contained in the leaflet and by eliminating food sources for gulls.
"Gulls are very opportunistic scavengers and will take advantage of any food scraps that we humans leave lying around from take-aways or overflowing bins.
"What is worse is the deliberate feeding of gulls by people throwing food to them in the street or feeding them in their gardens. I would like to thank the many people who already act responsibly but now encourage others to follow by not feeding gulls."
It has a guidance leaflet on seagull control which is available on the Highland Council website at: www.highland.gov.uk/seagullcontrol, as well as from Council Service Points, Libraries and Transport Environmental and Community Services offices.
The leaflet provides information and advice on gulls and the law; problems caused by gulls; the controlling of gulls; deterrent measures; and education about gulls.
It also explains that only licensed contractors with specialist skill and experience are legally allowed to kill certain species of gulls and what homeowners and businesses can do to prevent gulls nesting on their properties. Examples are given of the different types of deterrent measures that can be taken to try to prevent gulls from nesting.
