What can be done about aggressive gulls dive-bombing and attacking people?
This behaviour is almost always because the adult gulls are protecting their chicks. In law this may be the basis of a civil action and it could be the responsibility of the owner of the property to take reasonable steps to deal with the problem. However, often the best solution is to simply try to avoid the birds and wait until the chick is big enough to fly etc. In circumstances where gulls are clearly physically attacking people to the extent that they can be shown to present a danger to public safety or health, it is possible for competent persons (usually expert pest control contractors) to obtain a licence from Natural England to destroy the birds or for further advice you could contact Natural England (previously English Nature) by telephone on: 0845 601 4523. In doing so the person must take care that they comply with all the conditions in the licence and, if their methods include shooting, to inform the local Police in advance. Any persons relying on this licence must first be
