Aggressive Seagulls

[Shutterbug]

Yeah I remember being at Sea World and having a seagull pull a fish out of my hand. I agree they are more aggressive and yes its because of humans.
The local mall has seagulls and we are way inland. Its because people throwin out french fries to them.

 

[Michelle67]

I see more and more evidence of animals losing their fear of people, and I think a large part of it is because people do feed them. It's sad because it means animals are now in situations they should not be (high traffic, exposed to people who will torture/harm them, domestic situations where they will be put down rather than relocated).

P.S. Now I have that scene with the seagulls from Finding Nemo in my head

I was thinking the same thing! "Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine."

 

[college_student]

I've seen some really surprisingly aggressive seagulls lately and it got me thinking.....was it always this way? I've recently had them:

• Unpack my beach bag to get to some packed snacks
• Take a granola bar from my hand
• Attempt to take food from me AS I was putting it in my mouth

...and I honestly don't remember them always being this gutsy. Or did I just never notice? If they are becomming more aggressive, is this a form of adaptation, do you think? Do you think it will get even worse, over time? If seashore vacation spots have been in existence for about 100 years (that is my VERY uneducated guess), what will they be like in another 100 years?

One of the biggest memories I have is when my family went to the Upper Peninsula for vacation one year (we live in Michigan). We stayed at a hotel right on the lake. I decided to take a bag of doritos out onto the beach. One seagull landed by me, so I fed it. A few more landed by me, so I threw a few more out. Next thing I know, there's about 50 birds, squawking at me. I ran back into the room. I think I closed the door just before the seagulls were able to come into the room.

Bottom line...YES they have always been aggressive. The problem will only get worse since there are more and more seashore vacation spots each year. YES they are scary beyond belief (I'm afraid of them to this day). And DON'T EVER feed seagulls doritos.

 

[4greatboys]

Not a bird but a racoon. DH was camping once and he said while he was in his tent doing something (probably still setting up, he'd just gotten there that day) he heard the latches on his cooler pop open. He pokes his head out and a racoon was digging through his cooler, he'd opened the thing like he did it every day (this cooler had latches that folded over to snap the lid shut tight). He said his only thought was if the racoon next popped open a beer, he was just going to quietly pack everything up again and go home because clearly that would be a sign that the animals were taking the forest back!

Now that's funny. One time when went camping we had to leave the food locked up in the car because the racoons were trying to breaking into the tent so I can certainly see one just opening up the cooler.

 

[LBIJim]

Seagulls have always been aggressive, no more so these days than in the past. Maybe just more people are noticing. Most food stands here have signs warning of their behavior.

Today one gull stole a piece of pizza crust right out of another gull's beak while both were airborne.

Jim