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Seagulls are noisy birds that have not seen a lot of media attention. They serve a purpose in that they are the custodians of landfills, parking lots, dumps, and other areas. Unfortunately, they tend to leave large messes in their wake and are quite noisy neighbors. Learn how to abolish seagulls humanely and safely for a more quiet and cleaner environment.
Know Your Seagulls
Seagulls all share a lot of the same physical characteristics. They are large to medium in size and range in color from grey to white. Seagulls belong to a family of birds called the Laridae. Common traits of seagulls are their black markings that exist on their heads and/or wings.
Seagulls are often seen in parking lots, near large water supplies and on roofs of buildings. They can first be noticed because of the sound they make, but they are opportunistic hunters that will swoop down and snatch up their prey.
A medium level of intelligence is present in seagulls because of their ability to learn and adapt to certain situations. While annoying to humans, they can assess a situation with their prey and find a way to confuse or trick their target. They also work together in mobs to fend off predators and intruders into their populations.
Seagull Diet and Breeding
Seagulls will in most cases feed on just about anything that moves. This includes fish, rodents, insects, plants, reptiles, earthworms, eggs and sometimes other birds. They do not show a preference for where their prey is hunted. They can be on the attack on both water and land.
For the most part, seagulls are pair-bonded birds and will seek a mate for life. They live in noisy colonies and lay two to three eggs at a time during nesting season. Both the male and female seagulls will take turns with the incubation of the eggs. The clutch of two to four eggs is incubated by both sexes for up to 30 days in nesting season in May and June. The chicks hatch fully covered in down and are fed by both parents.
Seagulls are smart and will adapt to feeding from a food source as long as it remains available. Like other animals, seagulls will continue to return to food sources.
During 2020 and the COVID19 pandemic, people living on the coast in the UK were warned that seagulls could become aggressive as their food sources became very limited. They were asked to refrain from waterfronts eating areas and not to feed the birds so that they will adapt to the limited supply of food sources and continue to fend for themselves.
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Removing Seagull Populations
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Seagulls are protected by law in some states in the United States and cannot be removed through means of eradication. To be certain, check with your local wildlife association to see whether or not seagulls are protected in your state. If so, it is best to deter the presence of seagulls by only utilizing natural means, or have fines imposed upon you for doing otherwise.
These birds can be annoying to tourist spots, beaches, and other areas near water. They are also known for stealing food items from tables and leave their droppings behind wherever they fly. There are many species of seagulls in existence today. But removal techniques are typically similar no matter where the problem occurs.
Below is a list of non-threatening, humanely means of seagull deterrent from sticking around your home, boat or property:
- Steel Spikes: These spikes are not intended to cause pain to the seagull and are meant as an irritating deterrent. These bird spikes will prevent gulls from landing and therefore avoid their bird droppings on surfaces.
- Bird Wire: A spring-tensioned bird wire system designed to create an unstable landing area that is widely used throughout the US because it’s very low profile. It carries GSA approval for historic buildings. The bird wire will also prevent gulls from landing and discourage bird droppings on your boat, house or building surfaces and ledges.
- Bird Netting: Bird netting is perfect solution to rid your garden, city centre roof top or industrial site of those pesky seagulls. Place the bird netting over trees, gardens or surfaces to keep a gull problem.
- Irri-Tape: This tape makes a clacking noise in the wind and the shiny side repels birds with light reflected from the sun. Excellent option for boat owners.
- Ultrasonic Bird Repellent: This product emits sounds that irritate and confuse seagulls.
- Terror Eyes: This is a visual repellent that is intended to ward off seagulls with their 3D eyes. Usually they are shaped like owls as they are a predator of the seagull.
- Floating Bird Balls: These floating eye balls will float along the surface of water and prevent seagulls and other annoying birds from landing in areas such as ponds or lakes.
- Gator Guard: This is a plastic alligator head with eyes that seem to follow the seagull or nuisance bird. Terrific for boat owners.
- Flock Free Bird Repellent: This repellent product discourages seagulls from nesting, flocking, and feeding.
- Squirt guns and Water Blasters: while this option will take some work it can be quite fun while working on your aim!
Seagulls and the Human Population
While most seagulls have become acclimated to living near human beings, they don’t generally pose that much of a threat. However, the tide can turn if the seagull feels threatened by a predator in any way. They use mobbing methods to congregate together, make noise, and scare off people or predators. Injuries are most likely the result of a human trying to avoid a confrontation with a seagull and not because of an attack by the bird itself.
Humans most fear seagulls because they may carry various diseases, germs, and parasites that can be harmful to us. In addition, their excrement can carry fungal infections that can cause us harm.
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Professional Removal
Unlike other pests, professional removal of seagulls may be limited to repelling the birds from the affected area. Through the use of various methods listed above, professional companies can repel seagulls and prevent them from returning to your home, boat or land area.
Seagulls may seem to be less of a nuisance than other creatures, but their bird droppings can cause damage to paint on cars, concrete surfaces, and more. Because they are nesting birds, they tend to lay eggs, sleep, and make noise around the clock in their den areas.
In many cases, a professional pest control company will work hard to exclude the seagull from nesting or loafing on the property or boat. These specialists will not actually kill or eradicate the population of seagulls. Instead, they will utilize means of scaring them off and keeping them from returning.
Seagull removal specialists can try to trap the bird and release it away from the affected property. Without prevention methods in place, this may prove to be fruitless in deterring the bird’s return. This is especially true if there is an overabundance of food nearby.
What to Expect
A wildlife removal specialist will sometimes come out to the property and assess the severity of the situation free of charge. They will monitor the affected area in order to determine how many seagulls are causing the problem. After the situation is clear, the specialist will determine the best ways of removal, along with repelling these birds from the property in the future.
Depending on the size of the problem at hand, it can cost hundreds of dollars to take care of a seagull problem. The technician will advise you of the options for removal and their associated costs. At that time, the specialist will provide you with an itemized list of services so that you may choose whether or not you wish to proceed.
How Much Does Seagull Removal Cost?
Just as with any other pest animal, the cost can vary depending on the size of the problem. While some professional seagull removal companies will not charge you to come out and assess the problem, others may ask for a fee of $100.00 or more to estimate removal costs and services needed.
Because of this, you may find it best to seek alternate methods of repelling these nuisance birds for yourself.
Saving Money on Seagull Removal
Unlike other pests, if the seagull problem you are experiencing is small in size, this is a problem that you can handle through inexpensive means. This can encompass the purchase of several items that are listed above, which works just as well in fending off seagulls should they invade your property.
If a seagull has somehow entered your home, it may be best to leave the removal to a specialist. If the problem exists outside of the home, you can remedy the problem by lessening the likelihood that a seagull will enjoy loafing around on your property.
You can do this by removing any nearby trash or waste and installing various items that will keep seagulls off of your roof or boat. Because of the protections granted to seagulls under various laws in the United States, Canada, and in Europe, killing off seagulls is not a good course of action.
When to Contact a Professional Removal Company
Seagulls are notorious for being protective of their nesting areas. They are not likely to attack humans unless they feel threatened. If the population of nearby seagulls is annoying you with their noisiness or are leaving seagull droppings around the property, a professional removal company should be contacted.
Professional companies can come out and remove the ability for seagulls to return anytime in the future. This will prevent the spread of COVID 19, disease, germs, and bacteria that are present in their bodies. While seagulls will not usually attack, they will charge in a mob-like fashion if their nest is threatened. If you are unsure as to whether or not a nesting area exists nearby, a professional wildlife removal company can figure that out for you.
Trained bird control technicians are the best source of prevention and repelling these birds from congregating on your land, roof, or boat. These licensed experts are already aware of the laws pertaining to seagulls. They know the best working remedies to keep them from annoying you and your family members. When contacting a wildlife or bird removal specialist, be sure to ask if the consultation visit is free of charge. At that time, you can also learn the methods that the professionals will employ as a means of keeping these birds at bay.
With any pest animals, prevention of their return is the best possible attack. They are smart creatures and will learn that they are not wanted.
