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Drones considered for Whitehaven gull problem Drones considered for Whitehaven gull problem
(about 7 hours later)
A council is considering using drones to tackle aggressive gulls which have snatched ice cream from children. Aggressive gulls that have snatched ice cream from children could be culled using drones, a councillor has suggested.
An eight-year-old boy in Whitehaven was left "traumatised" when a "seagull swooped down, took the ice cream out of his hand and off it went", Copeland Borough councillor Graham Roberts said. A Whitehaven boy was "traumatised" when a "seagull swooped down, took the ice cream out of his hand and off it went", town councillor Graham Roberts said.
"Anybody with any food near their face could have their nose or eye pecked," he said. The drones could be used to spray nests with a chemical to stop eggs hatching.
The drones spray nests with a chemical to stop eggs hatching. But, Copeland Borough Council their use was not one being considered.
Mr Roberts said council bosses were concerned the gulls could deter tourists and hit the harbour town's hospitality businesses. Mr Roberts said the gulls could deter tourists going to the harbour town, leading to a downturn for its hospitality businesses.
He said: "Whitehaven's a lovely place to visit and we don't want incidents with seagulls to deter people from coming. "Anybody with any food near their face could have their nose or eye pecked," he said
"People don't want to be in fear of being attacked by seagulls.""People don't want to be in fear of being attacked by seagulls."
Spraying gull eggs by hand risks attack from the birds, Mr Roberts said. Spraying gull eggs by hand risks attack from the birds and both methods require a licence because seagulls are otherwise a protected species.
The use of Drones is one of a number of options being discussed by the council on 27 August. Other options include acoustic electronic devices and manual egg-treating. Mr Roberts intends to raise the use of drones at a meeting of the town council on 27 August, when the problem will be discussed.
Mr Roberts added: "It's frightening. We've got to do something about it. "It's frightening. We've got to do something about it," he said.
"Drones have been used in France quite successfully as have acoustic devices which can also be effective. "The fact is we can't stand by while people are being hurt. As councillors we have to protect those we represent and people want action."
"The fact is we can't stand by while people are being hurt. As councillors we have to protect those we represent and people want action. The council said the seagulls did cause problems with mess but it had not received complaints about attacks.
"Depending on the cost of using drones I think it's very likely we will begin using them within the next six months to a year." Instead of using drones, it said the solution lay in not feeding the birds and for property owners to prevent gulls nesting on their buildings.