Rentokil has issued a warning for urban and coastal areas, specifically concerning gulls, during the remaining weeks of the breeding season, which runs from March to September.
Coastal areas are traditionally hotspots for increased gull activity, and urban environments mimic their natural habitats, making these areas particularly susceptible. The company provides essential advice on mitigating these pest birds' presence on your premises.
During the nesting/breeding period, gulls are often more aggressive as they are protective of their young. Gulls are likely to harass or attempt to pilfer food from the public and raid waste bins in search of sustenance for their offspring. Urban environments provide easy access to food waste, and tall buildings mimic the high cliff tops where gulls traditionally nest.
It is worth noting that bird droppings can pose serious health hazards, as they may contain harmful bacteria such as E coli and Salmonella. These droppings can lead to infections through surface contamination, inhalation of bacteria from dried droppings, or transmission of bird mites, which can bite both humans and birds.
“Gulls can become a significant nuisance for homeowners and businesses at any time of year but particularly when they are nesting," said Colm Moore, area technical manager at Rentokil. "However, there are proactive steps you can take."
Rentokill advises the following actions to deter gulls from your property.
Remove food sources: The most effective way to discourage the presence of birds is to eliminate their food sources.
Block nesting sites: Installing barriers over window ledges can effectively deter birds from nesting on your property.
Secure bin lids: Ensure that bin lids are securely closed and avoid leaving rubbish bags exposed, as gulls are known for their ability to tear through them.
Consider decoy birds of prey: Using fake decoy birds of prey can discourage pest birds from your premises as they will not want to roost where they see predators.
Seek professional help: If the problem persists, it is advisable to consult a professional pest control service.
"Although it’s the tail end of ‘gull season’, with temperatures still on the mild side lots of people are still out and about with food enjoying the weather, and so both adult and juvenile gulls could still be a nuisance,” Mr Moore added.
You can find more information about managing pest birds and deterring their presence on the Rentokil website.
Rentokil strictly adheres to the EU Birds Directive and the Irish bird derogations, using non-lethal methods to control all bird species when they become public health pests. Methods include the installation of bird spikes, bird netting, and even employing hawking, which involves specially trained birds of prey to scare and deter pest birds from an area without causing harm.
