Eyemouth, Scotland – Britain has appointed its first "gull ranger" in an effort to improve relations between humans and seagulls, following a rise in aggressive incidents involving the birds. Patrick Safford, 24, began his role in the coastal town of Eyemouth, where he will educate the public on how to interact with seagulls and prevent conflicts.
The position, managed by the Berwickshire Marine Reserve, was created after several people, including seven children, suffered seagull attacks in August 2024. Local councillor James Anderson noted that some child victims sustained bloody facial injuries from the attacks.
Safford, a former ecological consultant, aims to foster a balanced relationship between humans and gulls through education and engagement. He believes seagulls often receive an unfair reputation and are highly intelligent and adaptable creatures. "I wanted to get involved and see what I could do about it," Safford stated.
His responsibilities include informing visitors and residents about the importance of not feeding seagulls, how to behave to avoid provoking attacks, and understanding conservation issues. Safford has expressed skepticism regarding deterrents like fake predators, netting, and spikes, suggesting that seagulls' adaptability renders them ineffective in the long term. He noted that gull chicks often nest near these deterrents, and fake predators are quickly identified as non-threatening.
"The educational side of how to coexist with the gulls is more the direction that it's going, and encouraging against culling," Safford said. He also pointed out that only about 25 percent of seagulls are bold enough to attempt food theft.
To minimize encounters, Safford advises people to keep their distance from gull chicks, as swooping behavior can occur if chicks feel threatened. He also suggests sitting near walls or awnings to disrupt seagulls' flight paths when trying to steal food. Residents are also encouraged to avoid littering and to ensure rubbish is not left in overflowing bins.
The initiative is funded by Flora and Fauna International and is scheduled to run until August. The job advertisement highlighted the growing conflict between gulls and people in coastal towns as a prevalent issue in both social and traditional media, which has become a notable talking point.