Residents in Lossiemouth were left distressed after witnessing motorists appearing to deliberately kill seagull chicks.
It is widely accepted that gulls have become a major problem across the north and north east. But the actions of these drivers have been condemned.
In Aberdeen a pensioner was left with blood pouring down his face after coming to the aid of a chick in difficulty.
Now it seems that some frustrated drivers in Lossiemouth are attempting to deal with the menace in their own way.
Taking the law into their own hands
But they have been criticized for taking the law into their own hands.
A reminder has been issued that it is an offence to intentionally kill or injure any seabird.
On Monday July 25 Lossiemouth Community Council received two separate reports of car drivers apparently deliberately killing baby seagulls. The disturbing scenes took place in Commerce Street – a wide street in the town centre.
A statement on its Facebook page said: “Both separate witnesses to these events were left distressed by what they observed and expressed concern about the other young birds.
“We understand and share the frustration at the apparent lack of action by the local authority in taking control measures, but such behaviour cannot be condoned in our community.”
‘Some love them, some hate them’
Community council chairwoman Carolle Ralph said: “We received reports that this had been observed.
“It is a very emotive subject. Some people love the gulls, some people hate them. People are really angry about the seagulls. Dog fouling used to be our biggest complaint. Now it’s seagulls.
“People have said they are considering moving house because of them.
“I went down to Commerce Street on Monday night and at one point there were six dead baby seagulls.”
Killing seagulls with cars ‘not the solution’
Councillor John Cowe lives by the foreshore in the town and is well acquainted with the gull problem. But he said that hitting them with cars is not the solution.
He added: “Seagulls are certainly becoming a cause for a lot of concern locally. I live by the foreshore and am constantly swooped on. There are two nesting in my roof at the moment and I daren’t go out my back door.
“I can understand people’s frustration because they have become very much a nuisance, but they should not be touched in any way.
“It is a difficult one, trying to find a solution that is acceptable to all.
“We had a barbecue at home recently. I went into the house to collect something and when I came back the steak was gone!
“They are even attacking our dogs. The mess they make is unreal.
‘I was lucky’
“I was out the back with the dog last week and one literally skimmed my hair. But I was lucky, because I have heard of cases when they have seriously hurt people with their sharp beaks.
“It is an ongoing situation and it is getting worse. The council can’t do anything about it because the birds are protected. Whether nature helps the situation with bird flu I don’t know.”
Fellow Lossiemouth member for Moray Council, Councillor Neil Cameron, was not shocked at people taking dramatic action. He said: “It doesn’t surprise me.
“Seagulls are a nuisance. They cause a lot of problems. But I don’t condone people killing them. Especially as they are protected.”
Reacting to the reports, RSPB Scotland urged anyone who witnesses such actions to all the police.
‘Call the police’
A spokeswoman for the bird charity said: “While we recognise that some people are less tolerant of gulls than others, the community council is quite correct that these are protected birds. We are appalled at these reports that motorists have been killing these birds, and urge anyone who witnesses such cruel behaviour to report it to the police.”
A spokeswoman for Moray Council added: “While there is no provision for largescale measures this year, we are reacting to individual issues in-line with our responsibilities as a landlord.
“A campaign is under way Moray-wide to encourage householders to undertake measures to deter gulls from nesting, to refrain from feeding gulls and to dispose of litter responsibly so as not to attract gulls.”
Reader answers show that there definitely is a problem – with many pointing the blame at humans.
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