With summer holidays approaching, many Brits will be making plans to visit the beach and indulge in some of the seaside classics, like ice cream or fish and chips. However, nothing manages to spoil these treats quite like seagulls diving to steal your food.
There are over 171 million TikTok posts for ‘feeding seagulls’ on the social media app, something that experts strictly warn people against, as it encourages stealing. A recent TikTok has gone viral with 9 million views and 1.9 million likes, sharing a girl running away from a seagull attack. Users have commented, calling it their ‘worst nightmare’, and another commented ‘this is why I’m scared of seagulls’.
In light of this, and to help keep you and your snacks safe this summer, hospitality payment experts at Dojo, a card payment provider, spoke with seagull experts. Dr Neeltje Boogert, a research fellow in behavioural ecology at the University of Exeter, shared expert tips on how to avoid seagulls stealing your food as the weather gets warmer across the UK.
Wearing zebra stripes or bee patterns will deter seagulls this summer
Image credit | Unsplash
Google searches for ‘What do seagulls eat?’ have increased by 50% in the last year in the UK, showing Brits are curious, and possibly concerned when eating outside. Speaking to Dojo on the topic, Dr Neeltje Boogert comments, “Gulls learn about food from people, and they’re super generalist foragers, so anything that people eat, gulls will eat as well. Although it should be noted that they’re less keen on vegetables.”
While seagulls may not be picky eaters, it turns out that it could be your outfit choice that deters them from stealing your food. Dr Neeltje continued, “Many animals find highly contrasting patterns aversive, like zebra stripes or wasp/bee patterns. So there’s a chance they might initially be less keen to snatch ice creams, with alternating white (or yellow) and black stripes.”
Four top tips to avoid food getting stolen by seagulls this summer
Dr Neeltje Boogert shared with Dojo her top tips to avoid getting your food stolen by gulls:
- Keep your eye on any gulls around you
“Gulls find the human gaze aversive and are less likely to approach your food when you’re staring them down.”
- Block and obstruct seagulls when eating
“Eat underneath a parasol, umbrella, roof, or narrowly-spaced bunting, or with your back against a wall. Gulls need an easy or unobstructed approach & escape route if they’re going to steal your food. They will approach from behind, which is blocked when you’re standing against a wall, and they’re not comfortable flying underneath roofs or bunting.”
- Never leave a bag unzipped
“Cover your food and zip up bags as they’re very familiar with grocery bags, crisp packets, and pasty bags, and they will rifle through your bags if unattended.”
- Do not feed the gulls!
“Human food is bad for their health, and feeding encourages stealing.”
Dojo also advises business owners to be aware of these seagull deterrent tips, as seagulls flocking to cafes or restaurants can discourage customers from purchasing, especially seaside cafes that serve food. Business owners should not feed seagulls and discourage patrons from doing so. They should also avoid leaving food outside and provide bins that close to minimise the risk of attracting seagulls. Ensuring food waste is disposed of properly, and that customers do not feed the birds will not only keep premises tidy, but also help deter seagulls from gathering nearby.