Written Question · S1W-27607 · Session 1
Whether parent seagulls that make swooping attacks on people in order to protect their young constitute a danger to human safety; whether i…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether parent seagulls that make swooping attacks on people in order to protect their young constitute a danger to human safety; whether it will give advice to local authorities that action should be taken under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in order to reduce and seek to eliminate any such danger, and, in the light of the death of Mr Wilfred Roby reported in The Times on 6 July 2002, whether it will now take action in relation to any potential risk to human life.
The answer
The Scottish Executive, Scottish Natural Heritage and other agencies already offer advice to local authorities on a variety of control measures which can be taken against seagulls, including measures under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.In a situation where it is considered that attacks from seagulls pose a threat to human life, it is the responsibility of individual local authorities to decide upon the most appropriate course of action. Adequate powers to take the necessary steps are already available to local authorities as part of their environmental health responsibilities and this may include lethal control of seagulls.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S1W-27607 by reference.