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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Call to control seagull numbers | Call to control seagull numbers |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| An MP is calling for action to control the number of seagulls in urban areas saying they pose a "serious problem" for residents, tourists and businesses. | An MP is calling for action to control the number of seagulls in urban areas saying they pose a "serious problem" for residents, tourists and businesses. |
| Don Foster, Lib Dem MP for Bath, used an adjournment debate in Parliament to call on ministers to take the threat of growing gull numbers seriously. | |
| He said they were anti-social, noisy and in some cases, aggressive. | He said they were anti-social, noisy and in some cases, aggressive. |
| The Department for the Environment said councils had powers to deal with gulls and urged people not to feed them. | The Department for the Environment said councils had powers to deal with gulls and urged people not to feed them. |
| Disliked | Disliked |
| Gulls are among those birds which can be killed - by methods including shooting and cage trapping - by authorised individuals on the condition they are satisfied that non-lethal methods are ineffective or impractical. | Gulls are among those birds which can be killed - by methods including shooting and cage trapping - by authorised individuals on the condition they are satisfied that non-lethal methods are ineffective or impractical. |
| But Mr Foster said greater clarity was needed about what action individuals and organisations could take against gulls without fear of possible prosecution. | But Mr Foster said greater clarity was needed about what action individuals and organisations could take against gulls without fear of possible prosecution. |
| The trend for gulls to settle in city and town centres, for a range of social and environmental reasons, is causing growing concern across the country. | The trend for gulls to settle in city and town centres, for a range of social and environmental reasons, is causing growing concern across the country. |
| There have been complaints about them scavenging in bin bags and leaving droppings on buildings and vehicles and they can become aggressive when their nests are disturbed. | There have been complaints about them scavenging in bin bags and leaving droppings on buildings and vehicles and they can become aggressive when their nests are disturbed. |
| When they come hurtling towards you they can be pretty frightening Don Foster, Lib Dem MP | When they come hurtling towards you they can be pretty frightening Don Foster, Lib Dem MP |
| In Scotland, a joint central and local government task force has been set up to look at ways of repelling the birds and Mr Foster says the problem is a UK-wide one. | In Scotland, a joint central and local government task force has been set up to look at ways of repelling the birds and Mr Foster says the problem is a UK-wide one. |
| "There is a real health and safety issue, a noise issue and nuisance issue related to the huge growth in numbers of urban seagulls," the MP said. | "There is a real health and safety issue, a noise issue and nuisance issue related to the huge growth in numbers of urban seagulls," the MP said. |
| Councils were spending increasing amounts trying to tackle the problem, he said, with little or no impact. | Councils were spending increasing amounts trying to tackle the problem, he said, with little or no impact. |
| Methods used include covering roofs with nets to prevent gulls nesting, replacing their eggs with a stone of a similar colour and employing hawks and other birds of prey to scare them off. | Methods used include covering roofs with nets to prevent gulls nesting, replacing their eggs with a stone of a similar colour and employing hawks and other birds of prey to scare them off. |
| However, this merely displaced the problem elsewhere, Mr Foster said, and co-ordinated action was now needed. | However, this merely displaced the problem elsewhere, Mr Foster said, and co-ordinated action was now needed. |
| Gulls were not merely a pest, he said, but there were "many examples" of them attacking pets and, in some cases, people. | Gulls were not merely a pest, he said, but there were "many examples" of them attacking pets and, in some cases, people. |
| "When they come hurtling towards you they can be pretty frightening." | "When they come hurtling towards you they can be pretty frightening." |
| Need for research | Need for research |
| He is calling on Defra to carry out research into the extent of the problem as a means of identifying possible solutions. | He is calling on Defra to carry out research into the extent of the problem as a means of identifying possible solutions. |
| Under current laws, it is illegal to kill birds or interfere with their nests although councils can apply for licences to cull certain birds for reasons of public health or to prevent the spread of disease. | Under current laws, it is illegal to kill birds or interfere with their nests although councils can apply for licences to cull certain birds for reasons of public health or to prevent the spread of disease. |
| Due to their long breeding life and low mortality rates for chicks, it is estimated the population of herring and black-headed gulls could grow from about 270,000 now to more than a million over the next decade. | Due to their long breeding life and low mortality rates for chicks, it is estimated the population of herring and black-headed gulls could grow from about 270,000 now to more than a million over the next decade. |
| Mr Foster said his concerns were shared by many other MPs. | Mr Foster said his concerns were shared by many other MPs. |
| "A number of MPs have come up to me and said thank goodness someone is raising it." | "A number of MPs have come up to me and said thank goodness someone is raising it." |
| A Defra spokesman said it provided guidance to councils on how to deal with troublesome birds. | A Defra spokesman said it provided guidance to councils on how to deal with troublesome birds. |
| "We recognise that gulls can cause problems in some areas, which is why government enables local authorities to take action where there are public health issues," a spokesman said. | "We recognise that gulls can cause problems in some areas, which is why government enables local authorities to take action where there are public health issues," a spokesman said. |
| "Culling gulls can be part of the solution, but as with other pests this needs to be teamed with local preventative measures including a responsible approach by all to waste disposal." | "Culling gulls can be part of the solution, but as with other pests this needs to be teamed with local preventative measures including a responsible approach by all to waste disposal." |
| The RSPB said the main explanation for the growing gull population was litter levels and simple steps such as not leaving food out would make a big difference. | The RSPB said the main explanation for the growing gull population was litter levels and simple steps such as not leaving food out would make a big difference. |