Dive-bombing' urban gulls snatching food sparks action in Inverness

"Aggressive gulls are becoming an escalating menace in Inverness in Scotland, forcing the council to roll out a new strategy to reduce clashes between residents and the birds — an issue common in many coastal towns around the UK. A new report by the Highland Council details the ongoing conflict between the birds (mostly herring gulls) and people in the area, who have complained of being woken by noisy gulls, food being snatched out of their hands as they've been dive-bombed by the birds, and also the aggressive swooping behaviour by birds apparently defending nesting areas."

"Last month an Easter egg hunt in the city was thrown into chaos by a series of more than a dozen violent gull attacks on children. With the city estimated to contain around 700 nesting sites, the council and Scottish natural heritage body NatureScot has spent 20,000 appointing external consultants to undertake a "baseline census and distribution study" of gulls in a 5km squared area in the centre of Inverness."

Aggressive herring gulls are becoming a growing menace in Inverness, Scotland, leading the Highland Council to roll out a new strategy to reduce clashes between residents and birds. Complaints include being woken by noisy gulls, having food snatched from hands during dive-bombing, and aggressive swooping behavior linked to defending nesting areas. An Easter egg hunt was disrupted by more than a dozen violent gull attacks on children. The city is estimated to have around 700 nesting sites. The council and NatureScot have spent £20,000 on external consultants to conduct a baseline census and distribution study of gulls across a 5km² area in central Inverness.

Read at www.independent.co.uk