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 seagulls

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

Herring gulls roost and nest on buildings near the coast.

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Lifecycle

They 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 (and problems they may cause)

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, as any suitable site will quickly be repopulated.

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

Several companies specialising in bird proofing are available in the local telephone book.

See also the following external websites:

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Advice for residents on feeding gulls

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

Feeding gulls encourages them into residential areas where the noise, mess and 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 and ongoing and is creating a serious public health risk. If you have an issue with a neighbour feeding seagulls 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, we strongly encourage people not to do so, because attracting large numbers of gulls to an area, through regular feeding could amount to anti-social behaviour.

Potential problems:

  • Gulls begin breeding in April and start to nest in early May. Loud mating calls and squabbling can begin at dawn and continue all day, causing noise disturbance to local residents.
  • Gulls 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 gulls encourages them to stay in that area and when fed regularly they expect everyone to do the same, leading them to attack people and steal food.
  • 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 by feeding them. Utilise bird feeders when feeding other bird species as gulls 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 are devices such as spikes, nets or wires installed on roofs to prevent them from landing and constructing nests.
  • If gulls 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: 03 April 2024

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