As many of us are currently enjoying the sight of young gulls finding their feet (and wings!) in our towns and cities, this time of year also brings reports of human intolerance and animosity towards these beautiful birds.
In Filey on the Yorkshire coast, not only are police investigating the shooting of several Herring Gulls by some gun-touting idiot, but the local RSPCA had to step in to prevent careless contractors from killing (apparently inadvertently...) dozens of gulls which were inhabiting a derelict building that they were in the process of demolishing. Distressed members of the public had reported seeing dead gulls amongst the rubble. But the problem is not confined to Yorkshire, nor is gull intolerance only a trait of individuals. Whole town councils too are becoming hysterical over what they call the gull 'problem'.... Dundee - The Most Hysterical City In The UK? Dundee appears to be amongst the more absurd parts of the UK when it comes to persecution of urban wildlife. There, fuelled by farcical reports of gulls 'terrorising' the apparently panic-stricken residents, the council have deemed it appropriate to cull nearly 200 gulls. Figures obtained by Dundee's Evening Telegraph show that 174 gulls have been killed so far this year with the number likely to rise. Dundee council is reported as saying that they are not carrying out a 'cull' but are rather "exercising rights under the Wildlife and Countryside Act". Hmm. The dictionary definition of 'cull' is " to reduce the population of (a wild animal) by selective slaughter". So, in spite of their protestations to the contrary, it seems that Dundee council are indeed carrying out a cull. Why try to dress the slaughter up as something else? Their claims that the gulls pose a significant risk to public safety would be frankly laughable - only there is nothing funny about the mass killing of a supposedly protected species whose population is in steep decline. Hope Through Education If incompetent councils continue to act on the demands of a few ridiculous residents then we might as well resign ourselves to a future devoid of urban wildlife. There is hope, some more enlightened councils have refused to kowtow to the irrational minority. Meanwhile we as individuals can educate others in our communities to delight in, and respect, these most impressive and misunderstood birds.
5 Comments
17/7/2018 02:43:45 pm
I think its disgusting the way that our wildlife are being treated,nobody should have the rights to harm them.
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Peter Thurgood
17/7/2018 04:40:10 pm
We overfish the sea denying them their primary food source, we then find them 'inconvenient' and try to push them away from our ever expanding towns. These creatures have as much right as we do to exist and they're trying the best they can. If a human is truly endangered by a seagull then we are really doomed, culling is as the OP writes a hysterical response and it is immoral..
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Helen McAliister
17/7/2018 09:09:30 pm
This really is so sicken to read.The gulls belong on this planet..We just want to take away nature..1
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Gull Hater
16/6/2019 12:49:34 pm
This post is laughable. I can absolutely 100% guarantee that you do not live in an area where they nest and are active 24hrs a day. These "impressive and misunderstood birds" are rats with wings, ripping bins apart, swooping on passers by to steal food and generally just being a nuisance. I'm one of those "ridiculous residents" but I assure you that any actions taken by Dundee Council are welcome and I would be even happier in the knowledge that more of these birds were destroyed sooner rather than later.
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Brotyboy
21/8/2020 10:28:08 am
Agreed.
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