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| Summit debates urban seagull woes | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A national summit is being held in the south of Scotland to discuss the menace of urban seagulls. | A national summit is being held in the south of Scotland to discuss the menace of urban seagulls. |
| The event is examining ways of tackling large gull colonies which populate towns and cities across Scotland. | The event is examining ways of tackling large gull colonies which populate towns and cities across Scotland. |
| The summit in Dumfries is considering the range of measures available to control gull populations. | The summit in Dumfries is considering the range of measures available to control gull populations. |
| Scottish Environment Minister Mike Russell is attending, along with experts and representatives from councils and Scottish Natural Heritage. | Scottish Environment Minister Mike Russell is attending, along with experts and representatives from councils and Scottish Natural Heritage. |
| Urban gulls have become a serious problem for many local authorities who have been dealing with increasing complaints about large colonies in town and city centres. | Urban gulls have become a serious problem for many local authorities who have been dealing with increasing complaints about large colonies in town and city centres. |
| The main concerns are the fact that they tear apart bin bags in search of food, leave droppings on buildings and vehicles and their aggressive behaviour during the breeding season. | The main concerns are the fact that they tear apart bin bags in search of food, leave droppings on buildings and vehicles and their aggressive behaviour during the breeding season. |
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| Seagull numbers are increasing despite efforts to curb them | Seagull numbers are increasing despite efforts to curb them |
| Dr Andrew Douse from SNH, is speaking at the conference, which is called "Gulls: Friend or Foe?". | Dr Andrew Douse from SNH, is speaking at the conference, which is called "Gulls: Friend or Foe?". |
| He said efforts to deter the birds by erecting netting, making food scraps less available or bringing in falcons to scare them off had limited success. | He said efforts to deter the birds by erecting netting, making food scraps less available or bringing in falcons to scare them off had limited success. |
| "The problem is that all of these methods can work in very local settings but overall we still see a continuing increase in gulls in our towns," he said. | "The problem is that all of these methods can work in very local settings but overall we still see a continuing increase in gulls in our towns," he said. |
| "There is a need to focus to focus on a larger, wider-scale solution." | "There is a need to focus to focus on a larger, wider-scale solution." |
| The environment minister said he was fully aware of the issues surrounding urban gull colonies and was keen to find solutions. | |
| Mr Russell said: "Seagulls are real nuisance in Scottish towns and cities. They thrive on litter and are known to remove waste from bins. | |
| "Their droppings are obviously also a health hazard and they can behave aggressively towards other birds, pets and even people. | |
| "Today's summit has been a very useful first step in helping Scottish communities find solutions to the problems they cause and our hosts Dumfries and Galloway Council seem to have a particular problem with the bird. | |
| "There is clearly a lot of work to do but one thing is clear - we must get tough on seagulls, but also tough on the causes of seagulls." |