Police say seagulls are being shot in one area of Wales

Owen Hughes & Branwen Jones

26 June 2024 at 4:06 am·2-min read

No caption — -Credit: (Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live)

A Welsh police has warned that they have received reports of seagulls being shot along a coastal strip. North Wales Police's rural crime team has received numerous reports of the illegal shooting of gulls, with calls coming from coastal areas in Denbighshire and Abergele/Pensarn.

There have also been instances of nests being destroyed while in use, North Wales Live reports. It is believed that air rifles are being used in these incidents.

In a statement, PC Amy Bennett from the Rural Crime team said: "The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 provides legislation that protects all wild birds, including Gulls and their nests, eggs and chicks. It is illegal to deliberately kill, injure or take Gulls except under licence. The use of an air rifle in these circumstances may also constitute a firearms offence."

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Mark Thomas, RSPB Head of Investigations UK, added: "Like all wild birds in the UK, Gulls and their nests and eggs are fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It's a criminal offence to intentionally kill, take or injure them or destroy their nests and/or eggs and committing these types of offences could result in a significant fine or time in prison. Anyone with information about the illegal shooting or harming of Gulls should contact the police immediately on 101."

Seagulls like this one pictured in Rhyl have been said to 'create quite a lot of hassle' — A spokesperson from RSPB has said that Herring Gulls, their nests and eggs are fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 -Credit:Ian Cooper/North Wales Live

RSPCA Scientific and Policy Officer Rebecca Machin stated: "We should all want to live in communities where our wildlife is treated with kindness. Herring gulls in particular are a species of conservation concern in the UK and their populations are in decline. Sadly, many people have an unfavourable opinion of them and we know they can even be targeted - but these are intelligent animals who form strong social bonds with each other, and deserve to be treated with respect."

"As we mark our 200th birthday this summer we continue to urge everyone to rethink their relationship with all animals as part of our 'For Every Kind' campaign. For advice on living in harmony with gulls please visit here."

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