Gulls are coming! Are you prepared and ready?
Click Here03
weeks
02
days
04
hours
19
minutes
52
seconds
Why are Seagulls so greedy?
Gulls are a familiar sight across the UK, from bustling seaside towns to inland city centres. However, these birds have a bad reputation for being aggressive, particularly when it comes to food.
Gulls are a familiar sight across the UK, from bustling seaside towns to inland city centres. However, these birds have a bad reputation for being aggressive, particularly when it comes to food. Whether its tourists losing their chips or people getting dive-bombed in the city, gull encounters can be scary intimidating. But why do they behave this way? Is it simply their nature, or have humans played a role in shaping their boldness?
GULL BEHAVIOURS
Not all gulls are equally aggressive. In the UK, species such as the Herring Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull are the most notorious for their bold behaviour. While some gulls remain more cautious around humans, others have learned that people can be an easy source of food, leading to increasingly fearless interactions.
Gulls are intelligent birds, capable of recognising patterns and adapting their behaviour to take advantage of opportunities. Gulls can even identify where food is most likely to be available, timing their scavenging to busy lunch hours in town centres or beach fronts. Some species, like the Great Black-backed Gull, are naturally more predatory, while others, such as the Common Gull, tend to be less confrontational.
Gulls need to consume at least 20% of their body weight daily, with this ideally being a high-fat, high protein diet. It is suggested this is why chips are such a temptation for gulls, as they are high in fat and calories. Through living in seaside towns and adapting around the growth of chip shops, gulls have quickly learnt that chips are the easiest snack to steal. Whilst physically able to do so, most gulls are flexible eaters and will not struggle to find food, however they will grow increasingly weak within 24 hours if not fed, so become desperate quick.
Statistics
Gull attacks are not as rare as you might think—there are real numbers and increasing reports their bold behaviour. In some UK seaside towns, local councils receive hundreds of complaints every year about aggressive gulls. A BBC report highlighted a rise in incidents where people had food snatched from their hands, with some attacks resulting in injuries.
One study found that Herring Gulls were responsible for over 80% of reported gull-related incidents. This behaviour is particularly noticeable during breeding season, when gulls become even more defensive, dive-bombing people who unknowingly venture too close to their nests. Attacks are most common in areas where gulls have become accustomed to human presence and easy food sources, such as town centres, coastal promenades, and even landfill sites. 1 in 3 gull attacks resulted in injuries; including cut heads, pulled hair and even broken fingers.
Location
While gull aggression is most associated with seaside towns, it’s not just a coastal issue. Progressively, gulls are making their homes in urban areas, where they find rooftops perfect for nesting and food waste in abundance. Cities such as London, Birmingham, and Manchester have reported a growing gull presence, with some businesses and homeowners resorting to bird-proofing measures to keep them at bay.
In coastal areas, the problem is often exacerbated by tourism. Seaside towns like Brighton, Blackpool, and Scarborough experience high levels of gull aggression, largely due to visitors feeding them—whether intentionally or by accident. The more food gulls get from humans, the bolder they become, leading to a cycle of increasingly fearless behaviour.
Why Gulls Resort to Aggression
Gulls aren’t inherently aggressive, but their survival instincts drive them to take risks when food is scarce, or competition is high. Several factors contribute to their boldness:
- Food Scarcity – As natural food sources like fish and marine life decline due to environmental changes, gulls turn to human-provided food for sustenance.
- Human Influence – Feeding gulls, whether deliberately or unintentionally (by leaving food waste accessible), encourages them to see people as a food source.
- Breeding Season – During nesting periods (spring to summer), gulls become highly territorial, protecting their young from perceived threats - including humans.
- Urban Adaptation – City-dwelling gulls have learned that human environments provide easy meals, leading them to take bolder approaches when scavenging.
Gulls may have earned their reputation for being aggressive, but their behaviour is largely created by their environment and our own actions. By reducing human food sources, discouraging feeding, and taking preventive measures, we can help maintain a balance between people and these resourceful birds. While they may always be a bold presence in our seaside towns and cities, understanding their behaviour can help us coexist without unnecessary conflict.
Next time you’re by the sea, hold onto your chips - you never know who’s watching!
Gulls are coming, are you ready?
If you own a business in the UK, you are liable for the health of your customers & employees. Putting necessary bird proofing solutions in place is paramount in creating a safe and health space for everyone. See how we can help:
