What do I do if I find a baby seagull wandering around?
Seagulls are very particular about where they nest. The ideal locations in urban areas are:
- Between chimney pots
- On flat roofs
- Roof gulley
- Behind chimneys
All of the above offer the security needed to raise their young. In all our years of bird control, we guarantee that wherever they nest nearby will be a flat surface for the young to make their way down to.
What do you do if you see a young seagull walking around?
Our response is to best to leave them alone! At a certain age chicks will fledge the nest to explore their surroundings and to ‘get their wings’. This can be amusing to watch.
The chicks can also be clumsy and occasionally fall to the ground in your garden or at the front of your home or business premises.
This is a natural occurrence. Without sounding horrible it is fight or flight time!
Resist the temptation to help!
As a nation of bird lovers, you could be tempted to help the young gull.
The answer is don’t! Leave them to it. Unless abandoned, which we doubt, the parent gulls will be close by watching their offspring’s every move.
This is when things can get a bit tricky and for some frightening.
Parent gulls are very protective and will do anything to protect their young from children playing in the garden, passers-by, dogs and anything it may consider a threat.
They will even put out a distress call to other nearby gulls to join the assault!
We think they are misunderstood birds but we certainly do not underestimate their ability to cause harm if they wanted to.
I am sure we have all read about, or know someone who has been attacked by seagulls.
But what if the chick appears injured?
That is a different story. When gulls fall from the nest or roof they can injure their wings or legs. Understandably, you may want to help.
Our advice is to get a cardboard box to place the young gull in and take it to your nearest rescue centre.
Just type into Google Seagull Rescue ‘your-area’. This Facebook Group may be of use.
Again, it doesn’t hurt to remind you that the parent birds will be watching and the chances are they will be very anxious.
Our top tip – Not feeling to brave for a rescue attempt? Put an umbrella up for protection and have a towel ready to place over the baby gull.
Do not phone the RSPCA or the RSPB. This is a common problem and they are not in a position to help. Besides this, with the advent of bird flu doing the rounds, they would be hesitant to help.
What County Bird Control do.
Should the above scenario happen the adult gulls could spoil your summer.
Many customers have said they cannot even go out to enjoy their garden because of swooping, and aggressive gulls. Even pets have had to be kept indoors.
The problem is that once they have a nesting area, year on year, they will keep coming back and that is where County Bird Control can help.
The timing is important. As an ethical bird control company we would not touch gulls during the nesting breeding season as it is illegal to do so and no one should say otherwise.
Did you know that disturbing or destroying a seagull nest could get you unlimited fine and up to 6 months in prison for each offence if you’re found guilty!
We have a range of effective deterrents to prevent gulls from returning the next season
(March to September).
We can install:
- Seagull Spikes
- Post and Wire for roof ridge lines
- Electronic devices
- Flat roof netting system
- Scarborough Spikes
- Chimney cages
Call us for advice or to book seagull deterrent installations in Kent, East, Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey, London and Essex.
Office: 0800 2343511
Dean: 07802 270407
Matt: 07802 500180
