A Scottish council has declared war on aggressive gulls following a chaotic Easter egg hunt in Inverness that saw 16 bird-related incidents reported by attending families.
Officials of Highland Council have described the attacks last weekend as “coordinated,” with the birds targeting members of the public, including young children, during the event organised by Inverness business improvement district.
In response to the scale of the problem, the council has unveiled a new public reporting tool enabling residents to log encounters with the pesky birds by providing dates, locations and descriptions of incidents.
The authority, which operates under no overall control, stated that this public data would assist in identifying gull attack hotspots across the area.
Janice Worthing, an ambassador for the business improvement district, described the alarming nature of the attacks.
“There was coordinated behaviour from adult gulls watching for opportunities, calling others in, and repeatedly swooping at, and in some cases striking, members of the public, including young children,” she said.
The timing has exacerbated the danger, with April marking the height of breeding season when gulls become fiercely protective of their nests.
Ms Worthing warned that injuries would likely increase during this period, noting gulls are “really quick” and can strike suddenly and decisively.
Inverness has been plagued by seagulls for several years
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GETTYDespite Highland Council deploying a trained falcon to deter the birds, the situation appears to be deteriorating.
Conservative councillor Isabelle MacKenzie said the gull issue in Inverness had grown considerably worse over recent years.
She highlighted how shoppers in the city centre have resorted to carrying umbrellas as shields against the birds.
Fraser Park has emerged as a particular trouble spot, with gulls “swarming” those walking their dogs.
“I got dive-bombed at the park last year. They swoop by you, it can be really alarming,” Ms MacKenzie said.
Young children enjoying ice cream were particularly vulnerable to the birds, who frequently targeted them for their food.
A Highland Council spokesman told STV News on Wednesday that the gathered information would reveal whether patterns or hotspots exist, and identify which types of behaviour are most common.
“As different behaviours require different mitigation approaches, meaningful and reliable data will support a targeted and proportionate approach to advising on appropriate mitigation measures to reduce negative interactions between gulls and people,” the spokesman said.
The findings will inform the design of future gull management programmes.
Public authority intervention remains essential, as the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes it illegal to capture, injure or kill any wild bird, or interfere with their nests or eggs.