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Scottish Sun
04-07-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Warning over disorientated seagulls ‘on acid' wreaking havoc in UK seaside towns due to annual phenomenon
Drivers have been warned to slow down on roads FLIGHT-HEADED Warning over disorientated seagulls 'on acid' wreaking havoc in UK seaside towns due to annual phenomenon A WARNING has been issued over "drunk" seagulls causing chaos in UK seaside towns. The birds might be behaving strangely due to annual phenomenon. 2 Seagulls might appear 'drunk' and disoriented Credit: Getty 2 Seagulls feed on ants which produce acid Credit: Getty Swarms of giant flying ants will take to the skies over the next few days. It marks the beginning of the insects' mating season, dubbed Flying Ants Day. However, the bizarre phenomenon lasts for considerably longer than a day, often two weeks. But it's not swarms of ants that people should be aware of. Seagulls could be seen acting disoriented and having trouble flying as if they are intoxicated. The flying pests produce an acid which makes seagulls who eat the ants "slightly drunk". A spokesman for Sompting Wildlife Rescue told the Argus: 'These ants release formic acid as a natural defence. "In small amounts, it's harmless, but when gulls gobble down a feast of ants, it can cause them to appear disoriented or 'drunk', stumbling around and struggling to fly properly." The animal rescue organisation has cautioned drivers to slow down if they see seagulls near the roads. The birds are especially vulnerable as they might move slower than usual and struggle to avoid the traffic. The spokesman continued: 'If you see a gull behaving strangely by the roadside, please slow down and give them space - they might just need a little time to recover. 'These gulls can show symptoms that look like bird flu, which raises concerns. 'But in many cases, they're not sick at all. 'Let's avoid unnecessary action like euthanasia - a bit of fresh water and rest is often enough to get them back on their feet (or wings). 'Let's help our feathered friends through this odd patch of nature.' The ants fly in swarms to boost their chances of reproduction and defend themselves against predators, according to the museum. The ants are triggered to reproduce by a shift in temperature from wet weather to hot humid conditions. By the end, billions of ants will have taken to the skies. Flying ants only live up to a couple of days after flying ant day. This is why it is common to see hundreds of dead ants on footpaths and car bonnets after the event.
The Irish Sun
04-07-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Warning over disorientated seagulls ‘on acid' wreaking havoc in UK seaside towns due to annual phenomenon
A WARNING has been issued over "drunk" seagulls causing chaos in UK seaside towns. The birds might be behaving strangely due to annual phenomenon. Advertisement 2 Seagulls might appear 'drunk' and disoriented Credit: Getty 2 Seagulls feed on ants which produce acid Credit: Getty Swarms of giant flying ants will take to the skies over the next few days. It marks the beginning of the insects' mating season, dubbed Flying Ants Day. However, the bizarre phenomenon lasts for considerably longer than a day, often two weeks. But it's not swarms of ants that people should be aware of. Advertisement read more on news Seagulls could be seen acting disoriented and having trouble flying as if they are intoxicated. The flying pests produce an acid which makes seagulls who eat the ants "slightly drunk". A spokesman for Sompting Wildlife Rescue told the Argus: 'These ants release formic acid as a natural defence. "In small amounts, it's harmless, but when gulls gobble down a feast of ants, it can cause them to appear disoriented or 'drunk', stumbling around and struggling to fly properly." Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive The animal rescue organisation has cautioned drivers to slow down if they see seagulls near the roads. The birds are especially vulnerable as they might move slower than usual and struggle to avoid the traffic. The spokesman continued: 'If you see a gull behaving strangely by the roadside, please slow down and give them space - they might just need a little time to recover. 'These gulls can show symptoms that look like bird flu, which raises concerns. Advertisement 'But in many cases, they're not sick at all. 'Let's avoid unnecessary action like euthanasia - a bit of fresh water and rest is often enough to get them back on their feet (or wings). 'Let's help our feathered friends through this odd patch of nature.' The ants fly in swarms to boost their chances of reproduction and defend themselves against predators, according to the museum. Advertisement The ants are triggered to reproduce by a shift in temperature from wet weather to hot humid conditions. By the end, billions of ants will have taken to the skies. Flying ants only live up to a couple of days after flying ant day. This is why it is common to see hundreds of dead ants on footpaths and car bonnets after the event. Advertisement What are flying ants and how to protect your home from the swarms: Often referred to as alates, flying ants are fertile male and female ants whose sole purpose is to reproduce and start a new colony. The most common type of flying ant is the black garden variety (the Lasius niger), whose nests have a single queen and anything from 5,000 to 15,000 workers. Flying ants are not dangerous insects and are unlikely to bite. Even though they're harmless, flying ants are still annoying - but fortunately, there are many household items which can be used to get rid once and for all. Spraying with dish-washing soap mixed with water can dehydrate the ants. Asparteme-based sweeter is said to be effective. Combining this with juice to form a paste means the critters will carry it back to their colony - killing off some of the ant population in the process. Distributing some insecticidal powder around window and door openings can also prevent the ants from entering your home. Rentokil also says to clean up after yourself and keep food and rubbish bags sealed tightly.
Metro
02-07-2025
- Health
- Metro
Drivers warned to take care to avoid seagulls which appear to be 'drunk'
Animal rescuers have urged people to take extra care around seagulls due to a phenomenon linked to flying ants which makes them act oddly. Every summer swarms of flying ants emerge from their nests and move to new areas to try to establish new colonies. While the popular myth of a single 'flying ant day' persists, they typically over a period of several weeks, triggered by hot weather, with a peak lasting a few days. In some parts of the country, flying ants have already begun hatching. Sompting Wildlife Rescue in Sussex today said this is 'bringing unexpected trouble for our local seagulls'. Seagulls are known to flock to these swarms of ants and gorge on them. 'When gulls gobble down a feast of ants, it can cause them to appear disoriented or 'drunk', stumbling around and struggling to fly properly,' the charity told The Argus. Social media users have begun sharing pictures of flocks of seagulls in places they typically wouldn't linger, such as road surfaces or a busy cricket ground. Residents of warmer regions have already remarked on an unusual number of seagulls apparently killed by cars. Commenting on one such image, Tilly from Eastbourne, East Sussex, said she had seen six seagulls dead on local roads because 'no one can be bothered to toot or go around them'. A man driving through the town said he saw one killed by a car after failing to move out of the road with the rest of the flock. It was previously thought that this so-called 'drunkenness' caused by formic acid contained in ants. The substance is toxic to birds in sufficient amounts but can have a stimulant-like effect on them. But experts now doubt that common ants of the kind seen flying around at the moment contain enough formic acid to have such an effect – and believe the effect is akin to the sluggishness humans experience after having a heavy meal on a scorching day. Royal Society of Biology entomologist Rebecca Nesbit previously told BBC Countryfile her research indicates that formic acid 'is found in higher concentrations in Formica ants than in the species we're seeing most commonly on flying ant day'. 'My answer to the question 'can gulls get drunk on flying ants?' would be no,' Dr Nesbit added. 'Although formic acid can be toxic to birds, it is more likely that they are just too hot and full.' More Trending Regardless of the cause, this phenomenon is agreed to be a threat to the birds' lives. 'This sadly makes them much more vulnerable near roads, as they may not move quickly enough to avoid traffic. 'If you see a gull behaving strangely by the roadside, please slow down and give them space – they might just need a little time to recover. 'These gulls can show symptoms that look like bird flu, which raises concerns. But in many cases, they're not sick at all.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page.
