Seagull Pest Control Services
Seagull control and removal
There is many a humorous tale of seagulls snatching fish and chips on the shore. These birds have become synonymous with the sea, a vision of an English summer holiday, and a well-worn tongue in cheek nuisance. While seagulls seem far from the usual pests of rats, lice and even pigeons – they can cause chaos.
Seagull deterrence methods
Gulls are smart, sassy and won’t be steered away easily. People feeding gulls is the number one reason they stick around. Wherever you go on a summer weekend jaunt, you are sure to see people throwing down food for the birds.
One of the first things that needs to be done in the battle against the birds is to try and remove the food source from near your building or property. Proper disposal techniques such as lids on bins and clearing away litter is the start to cutting back on the problem right outside your home. Also, be sure to avoid putting out your bin bags in advance. You may find that the next morning, a gaggle of gulls has torn your rubbish bags apart and spread your trash across the road while searching for food. Not a good way to start the day.
Bird nets and wires
Killing gulls outside of a government approved cull is illegal, so you can forget about poisons and pistols. To deter the gulls from setting up their latest nest on your roof you can consider spikes, wires and nets. Much like pigeon spikes, this doesn’t give the gulls an easy landing meaning that they are more likely to shop around elsewhere for a prime piece of real estate.
Nets and wires work very much in the same way. The method of choosing wires and nets is humane, cheap and can be effective – but if you already have a nesting problem it is more a future deterrent than a current problem solver.
Having netting or spikes around or covering your chimney is one of the most important aspects as this is a favoured place for gulls to nest.
Mechanical spiders
You can also invest in something called a mechanical spider, which in short is a mechanical spinning device with long wires that also deters the birds from settling down and nesting.
Streamers and strobes
Seagulls and most birds have a different style of eyesight to our own. Apparently by using reflective material, streamers, mirrors and shiny tape you can baffle the birds into thinking your ledge or rooftop is covered in flames. Strobe lights are another feature that gulls cannot stand, however homeowners may find adorning their beloved property in pieces of mirrored tat and strobe lighting far from a suitable solution.
Terror eyes
Aside from shiny material, it is also rumoured that gulls aren’t fond of scary owl-like faces. Many people invest in wooden owl statues or even draw an owl face onto a balloon to keep gulls at bay. These are called ‘terror eyes’ and are a simple and very low budget choice for keeping the birds away.
You can also get mechanical bird distress systems which mimic the call of a seagull in distress. When the other gulls hear this sound, they will think that the area is a threat to them and will stay away. Unfortunately, this method can be short lived as over time the gulls grow to realise that it is an empty threat.
Shock and sensors
Less humane methods can include mild electric zappers that send an electric current through a bird when it touches down on your patch, and motion sensor water squirt guns. While not harmful to the birds, some people may not feel comfortable employing these methods.
How we get rid of seagulls using falconry
But what if the birds are already well settled in your backyard? What if you run the risk of being dive bombed every time you step out of your house? While the above methods should certainly be employed in the future, the first thing to do is to rid yourself of the seagull problem at hand. Remember removing nests with eggs is strictly prohibited and professional pest control advice should be sought before trying to tackle a seagull problem yourself.
Fighting fire with fire and using birds of prey is without a doubt the best way to solve a seagull crisis. At Project Multi Pest we use two types of bird – a Harris Hawk and a Saker Falcon. These birds are a natural predator of seagulls and having them swoop over the site will send the seagulls scurrying without any firm plan to return.
Unlike other methods, this one carries a real natural threat which the gulls can recognise. While they can get over things like painted faces on balloons and water guns, the very real threat of a hawk or falcon will scare off the birds in seconds.
Maintenance is key when it comes to a gull problem. Clients should see it a little like having a gardener pop in for maintenance every once in awhile. Having a hawk or falcon fly over the problem zone on a regular basis is sure to make a significant reduction in the number of gulls terrorising your home.
Our birds have been lovingly hand-reared since birth and are highly adept at working in noisy built up settings without being fazed. They have no issue soaring over factory units, industrial sites, stadiums and city centre buildings. They have also been around the public their whole life so are not bothered by people in the slightest. Our birds have an article 10 certificate issued by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Contact us for seagull pest control services
We cover areas all around Kent, the charming seaside locale where we live. Being beside the sea means we raise happy healthy dogs who enjoy a wonderful balance and business and play. We also spread our bird control services out to London.
If you suspect your home may have fallen victim to a gull invasion, then please do not hesitate to pick up the phone or drop us a line.
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