Desperate council to stamp out marauding seagulls by putting birds on the pill

Worcester City Council bosses are discussing whether to lace food with birth control to stop randy seagulls from multiplying as they continue to 'wage war on residents'

Council bosses want to put randy seagulls on the Pill - to cut their numbers in a besieged city.

Officials in Worcester are considering doping food with birth-control drugs as part of a “safe sex” drive for the randy gulls. Similar schemes have been successfully used to control pigeons in several major European tourist destinations. Fed-up residents in the Blackpole area of Worcester begged for help after being attacked by gulls during their breeding season.

Business owners also complained about mess left by the birds, whose numbers have boomed in recent years. If the birth-control plan is approved, the council hopes it will lead to fewer attacks on people and clean up the streets. Labour councillor Jill Desayrah described the contraceptive option as “safe sex for seagulls”.

She said: “I am concerned that the increasing numbers of gulls are getting out of hand.” Cllr Desayrah wants to copy schemes in Barcelona and Venice, where birth control measures have reduced bird numbers.

“They laced food that would be attractive to the gulls with contraceptives,” she said. "I passed the idea onto Worcestershire Regulatory Services and they are following up on it, seeking permission from the relevant authority.” Former Worcester mayor Cllr Alan Amos branded the bird “brassy flying rats” and said they have “waged war on residents”. The city’s annual Gull Population Survey revealed that 376 pairs live on the Blackpole retail parks and industrial estates.

The majority are Lesser Black Backed Gulls, which, along with all the other types, is a protected species. They are attracted to the area by the many flat-roofed buildings and waste from food outlets. A council spokesperson said: “An Annual Gull Report will be presented to the City Council’s Environment Committee on November 5.

“This will provide councillors with an opportunity to consider a gull management programme for 2025.” Last year residents complained about being attacked by crazed gulls in their back gardens - despite living 80 miles from the coast.

They said they could not enjoy barbecues or invite friends over during the summer months because of the angry nesting birds. Homeowners spoke of having to “run the gauntlet” each time they left their properties. In 2019 Worcester City Council bosses considered applying to Natural England for a licence to kill the birds.

The following year the council called on people to clap louder than ever the Covid-19 NHS doorstep tributes to help drive the gulls away. Towns and cities across the UK have seen an increase in reported seagull attacks. The UK’s population of the birds - which can weigh up to 4lbs and stand 2ft tall - has increased four-fold in the past 20 years to 730,000.