We were terrorised by seagulls
I have just been reading your article about the seagull problem, "Feathered friends? They're angry and out to get you" (Evening Post, June 29).
Thanks for highlighting it as my girlfriend and I thought we were the only ones. We live in Southville and the gulls' awful screaming wakes us up every morning of the year just before dawn.
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Every day my girlfriend crosses Vauxhall Bridge and walks along the New Cut towpath to work. She rang me a few days ago in a very distressed state and told me she had been attacked by two seagulls, though there was no actual physical contact.
I met her from work that afternoon and was myself dive-bombed by these very large and aggressive creatures.
She has to run this gauntlet every morning and afternoon and is very frightened by it. Surely something has to be done about this as it could result in physical injury to somebody one day.
We rang pest control who said they couldn't do anything about it this year as the chicks had already hatched.
I just fail to see why in our own city we have to walk in fear.
As for them being beautiful creatures, I think crocodiles are beautiful creatures, but if they started breeding on our river banks we wouldn't just leave them to do what they want, would we?
JC Garland, by email
5 Comments
by s nicholls, St Michael's hill
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 8:30PM
“Please, Please can Bristol City Council take action regarding the seagulls. Bristol is becoming Alfred Hitchcock's " The bird's". These vermin carry germs far greater than SWINE FLU.. what with people feeding them when they are already fully satisfied on garbage and breediing in muliples amount, they are becoming a danger to the city. Beautiful building are being destroyed, people are disturbed 24 hours a day,as these birds do not sleep in the city. Do we wait for child to be attacked before action?”
by The Beef, The Ponds
Monday, July 06 2009, 11:56AM
“Well, "abitofcommon", sense isn't just missing from your name, is it?
I fail to see what is "lame" about the "excuse" that we have encouraged them in land - evidence is around for all to see. Landfill sites and litter bins make far easier pickings. Until these issues are addressed, nothing will change. So, yes we've caused them to come inland. Deal with the problem WE made. it's like storing a 30ft block of cheddar in your garage and wondering why you have mice.
Dogs are their owners responsibility and will be prosecuted. It's embarrassing to think that you would apply this rule to sharks and whales and anything else that might nip or prod you.
No doubt this weekend you'll be rounding up snakes and slow-worms and stamping on them in case they're an adder that may bite someone one day if you don't deal with them.
But don't tell me - if you know there's a bull in a farmer's field, and you know it might attack you, you're probably one of the daft ones who will still cross it and cry when it launches you over the gate. And you call me a member of the looney brigade?
I notice you didn't mention anything about the noise that humans make whilst I'm trying to sleep - perhaps you're one of those inconsiderate people too?”
by Birdie, Bristol
Sunday, July 05 2009, 11:23AM
“I hate seagulls too. They are so noisy, unattractive and rude. I think they are deeply unhappy away from their natural habitat. Why can't they go and live out at sea - the clue's in the name - instead of here in the city? It's much nicer there, fresh fish is much more nutritious than whatever's inside bin bags and they can make all the din they want instead of waking us up in the middle of the night.”
by abitofcommon, bristol
Saturday, July 04 2009, 6:51PM
“well done ''thebeef''.once again we see the looney brigade telling us that we have to make way for other creatures and our right to safety doesn't count. if a dog attacks people it would be put down, so why not these seagulls. Most people will tell you that in certain areas they have now become a pest. oh and please don't use the lame excuse that it is our fault they have moved inland as a short trip to coastal towns like st ives will confirm that they to have a problem with gulls”
by The Beef, The Ponds
Thursday, July 02 2009, 8:36AM
“Yes, it's a shame that we have to share the Earth with other creatures isn't it? These seagulls aren't "attacking" because they don't like you or want to see if you'll drop a bag of chips. They are doing it to protect their young who are no doubt about the place somewhere, in the same way that humans would do almost anything to protect theirs. It's nothing personal.
Is it not possible to find another way to walk? After all, if the area was frequented by muggers you would, and you are basically making this out to be the same thing.
I get woken up more by idiots who drop their friends off at 2:30 in the morning and instead of waving goodbye find it necessary to beep their horns, and people on early shifts shouting and slamming their doors and making noise for the sake of it. Perhaps the council will one day do something to eradicate those problems too.
Whilst I of course do have some sympathy with you both for not being able to sleep, and indeed for being attacked, I really don't think we're in any position to criticise the animal kingdom. - especially when you consider that we're the ones responsible for bringing them inland in the first place.”