New campaign to tackle Fife's gull menace

Last summer, the authority received numerous complaints about the problems caused by aggressive seagulls.

To avoid the same problems this year, the council is asking people not to feed the gulls and property owners affected by gulls to consider gull-proofing their properties before breeding season starts.

Cllr Ross Vettraino, convener of the environment, protective services and community safety committee explained: “Herring gulls are the most common type of gull to nest on buildings in Fife. Notwithstanding that they can be a real nuisance, they are protected by law and it’s generally illegal to destroy them or interfere with their nests.

“Fife Council has no statutory duty to deal with gulls, nor does it have the resources to do so. However, officers will give advice about the measures property owners can employ to proof their property and mitigate the nuisance.”

Gull-proofing measures include chimney guards, spikes for roof edges and netting. Such proofing will reduce the number of seagulls nesting on buildings with a consequential reduction in the problems associated with them, such as diving and aggressive behaviour.

Members of the public who feed birds by scattering waste food over their gardens, who drop litter and who don’t properly cover their waste are contributing to the problem. Cllr Vettraino continued: “Gulls are opportunistic feeders and will scavenge in towns for food dropped by pedestrians or thrown out of cars, as well as tear open waste bags left on streets.

“Everyone in Fife can play their part by not feeding the gulls, by binning litter instead of dropping it and by properly covering their waste.”

In areas where seagulls are causing a nuisance the Council will be using signs, banners and pavement stencils to raise awareness and encourage people to not drop their litter but ‘Just bin it’. Safer Community Officers will also increase patrols in areas affected with seagulls, they’ll adopt a zero tolerance approach and will issue fines to anyone seen dropping litter. Officers will also be visiting local businesses providing advice on preventing litter and seagull deterrents.

Cllr Neil Crooks, convener of Kirkcaldy Area Committee added: “I’m delighted to see the campaign being launched here. Kirkcaldy like many other coastal towns and villages has a real problem with seagulls.

“I hope the whole community gets on board by not deliberately feeding the gulls and not dropping litter. It’s a simple solution but if it can lessen the seagull problem we should all embrace it.”

For further advice on seagulls go to www.fifedirect.org.uk/seagulls.