Seagulls have fast become the menace of coastal communities across the country, including here on our beautiful North Wales coastline.
I have been inundated with complaints over the years about these brazen birds and I’m seriously concerned that unless something is done to control numbers, people will be deterred from visiting North Wales.
The hungry birds have been attracted to our coastline over the promise of discarded sandwiches and fish and chips - but have quickly grown to be a nuisance. Peter Rock, the UK’s foremost expert on urban seagulls, said that seagull colonies in urban areas have doubled in the past fifteen years, while wild seagull colonies have declined.
They have also grown in size and can be aggressive and noisy, particularly during the breeding season. No longer can you stroll along our wonderful promenades enjoying an ice-cream on a summer’s days, or sharing a bag of chips with your friends and family, because the gulls are always ready and waiting to swoop down and steal the food from your hands and even from your mouth.
There have been numerous media reports over the years of people who have been injured in the process or simply attacked for no reason. There have also been reports of gulls attacking dogs and other pets. During the summer, seagulls killed a dog in Newquay, Cornwall leaving a sight, according to one local, “like a murder scene” while a tortoise was pecked to deathin nearby Liskeard.
They also, of course, contribute to litter, particularly on refuse collection days, and many a washing line or newly washed car has played target to their droppings.
The daily sight of seagulls was once one of the perks of living on the coast, however for many residents living on the North Wales coast it is becoming increasingly hard to appreciate these birds.
I understand that seagulls are a protected species, but they can also a great nuisance to and something needs to be done to control their populations to help us live side by side with them.
Even the Prime Minister David Cameron recognises the problems they are causing, stating earlier this year that a "big conversation" is needed about the issue of seagulls.
I have raised the matter in the Senedd many times over the years, most recently last month when I called for action from the Welsh Government.
Everyone expects some gulls beside the seaside and, in fact, they’re a charming part of what the seaside has to offer, but it’s about time that we saw some action from our Welsh Ministers on urban gull populations so that we can have some confidence that this issue is being tackled before it begins to deter visitors from our wonderful coastline. Our seaside towns have struggled in recent decades, we should be doing all we can to help them attract more visitors, and that includes action to prevent these scavenging birds from scaring them away.