'Monsters' deliberately 'luring' seagulls to their deaths

Leader Live

02-06-2025

Pictures show maimed birds scattered across roads after reports they had been deliberately 'lured' to their deaths.
Bird lovers say they've been horrified by the brutal trend that involves food being thrown into the road as perpetrators watch on as they swoop down and get hit by unsuspecting drivers.
Volunteers at the non-profit organisation Foundation for Feathered Friends (FFF) said there has been a rising number of incidents involving both youths and adults.
A spokesperson said: "We've spotted food in the road enticing gulls to swoop in the road.
"Gulls are a protected species and are on the Red List for Conservation.
"An action like this is a deliberate attempt to make them swoop into the road and be hit by oncoming cars and has become something of a 'trend' in North Wales.
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"It has been witnessed in Abergele, Prestatyn, Rhyl and Llandudno to name a few areas.
"Sometimes parents have been seen encouraging their children to do it.
"On one occasion last year, in Rhyl, we witnessed four gulls lying in the road equidistantly with food near them.
"Three were dead and we picked up one to try to help her but she did not make it.
"We were also given a report of school children in their uniforms near their school, in Prestatyn, throwing food in the road for this purpose.
"When we made a complaint to the school we were told they were not on school property and therefore the school were not responsible for their actions.
"Youths were witnessed laughing and throwing food in the road in Llandudno. The occasions are many and its us that have to pick up the poor gulls wounded by monsters like these.
"For all we know people are doing it in different areas frequently causing injury or death to gulls that we have no idea about."
FFF founder Denise Theophilus said the charity was often left to pick up the pieces, after incidents.
She added: 'Who in their right mind would deliberately put these birds in danger by making them swoop onto roads to be hit by oncoming cars?
'It's definitely a trend, we're seeing more and more instances of it happening. And it's us that have to pick up the poor gulls wounded by monsters like these.'
Details of the incidents left members of the local community shocked.
One said: "What a sick trend. Whoever does this is a heartless waste of oxygen."
Another said: "What a horrible human being. Who takes joy out of seeing birds suffer in this way."