Seagulls! BDB followers are once again expressing the usual concerns about the gulls. We will try to pursue this but it has yo be said theres no straightforward solution.. Posting this meantime. Seagulls Seagulls are increasingly moving into towns and built-up areas to feed and rear their young. This is because fish stocks are becoming scarcer and the easy pickings from litter and household waste make such areas more attractive to gulls. It is illegal to harm any wild bird, including seagulls, unless a special license is granted, but there are some steps you can take to stop gulls from causing a nuisance. There are many species of gull, many of which are not considered to be pests. There are three species that most often cause problems in urban and coastal areas: Herring Gull (common grey seagull) Lesser Black-backed Gull Greater Black-backed Gull Gull Control The principal legislation relating to gulls and all other birds is the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. Under the legislation it is illegal to capture, injure or destroy any wild bird or interfere with its nest or eggs. The penalties that can result from prosecutions under the act can be severe. General licenses issued by Natural England and DEFRA (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) allow specific measures to be taken against species of birds on grounds which include the preservation of public health or public safety. If you think that gulls are posing a public health or public safety concern you can contact Natural England on 0845 601 4523. Any action that is taken must be humane and the use of an inhumane method which could cause suffering to the birds would be illegal. Only the owner of a building or its occupier can take action against the gulls on it and only if those gulls are of the three species mentioned above. They may however give permission to someone to act on their behalf. Shooting is not encouraged, particularly in urban areas because of the risks to others and private property. If shooting does occur it must be carried out with reference to the Fire Arms Act 1968. The local authority has no statutory obligation to control gulls and is unable to offer any practical help to resolve issues involving gulls. If you would like to be put in contact with a reputable bird control company you should contact the British Pest Control Association.
Posted on: Sun, 13 Jul 2014 10:12:17 +0000
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