Our parents always told us about dangers to watch out for: strangers, traffic, and playing with fire. Now a new peril has entered the chat, one so terrifying that councils are warning the public of the risks. That’s right, we’re talking seagulls.
A seaside region in the north of England has reported a dramatic rise in seagull ‘muggings’. That’s right, the feathered fiends in towns including Scarborough, Whitby to Filey have been snatching chips, pasties and more right out of the hands of unsuspecting tourists, and these thieves are getting bolder than ever.
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According to figures from North Yorkshire Council, there were 220 reports of gull incidents on the Yorkshire coast, stretching from Whitby to Filey, between 2021 and June this year. Two thirds of these incidents were related to ‘attacks’ and ‘muggings’.
Herring gulls and kittiwakes, most commonly known as seagulls, are the main culprits. However, these species are actually at risk of extinction due to overfishing, warmer seas and offshore wind farms. And while that might sound like good news for the safety of your lunch, the birds are now ‘red listed’ meaning they are of conservation concern.
However, in places like Scarborough the crafty birds are flourishing. Yearly census data shows the number of occupied kittiwake nests in the resort has risen by 39 percent in the past 20 years, from 1,527 in 2005 to 2,127 this year. The biggest increase was among seagulls building nests on hotels, shopfronts and other buildings: a 1,318 percent increase since 2005 from just 78 to 1,106.
North Yorkshire council said there had been a ‘perceived increase’ in their number. and a rise in complaints. What attracted so many of these birds? According to the experts, it’s people feeding them.
Many seaside towns like Scarborough have signs warning against feeding gulls. Authorities are trying to crack down on the pests, with one councillor even vowing combat the ‘seagull menace that is gripping our coastal communities’. Scarborough has removed nests from hotels and even tested a controversial bird-repellant ‘fire gel’. But will this be enough to deter the brazen critters? Only time will tell.
Just remember, don’t talk to strangers, look before crossing the road, never play with matches and don’t under any circumstances feed the seagulls.
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