'Monsters' deliberately 'luring' seagulls to their deaths
A CHARITY says a sick trend has seen yobs throw food in front of cars - so seagulls get run over.
Pictures show maimed birds scattered across roads after reports they had been deliberately 'lured' to their deaths.
Bird lovers say they've been horrified by the brutal trend that involves food being thrown into the road as perpetrators watch on as they swoop down and get hit by unsuspecting drivers.
Volunteers at the non-profit organisation Foundation for Feathered Friends (FFF) said there has been a rising number of incidents involving both youths and adults.
A spokesperson said: "We've spotted food in the road enticing gulls to swoop in the road.
" Gulls are a protected species and are on the Red List for Conservation.
"An action like this is a deliberate attempt to make them swoop into the road and be hit by oncoming cars and has become something of a 'trend' in North Wales.
"It has been witnessed in Abergele, Prestatyn, Rhyl and Llandudno to name a few areas.
"Sometimes parents have been seen encouraging their children to do it.
"On one occasion last year, in Rhyl, we witnessed four gulls lying in the road equidistantly with food near them.
"Three were dead and we picked up one to try to help her but she did not make it.
"We were also given a report of school children in their uniforms near their school, in Prestatyn, throwing food in the road for this purpose.
"When we made a complaint to the school we were told they were not on school property and therefore the school were not responsible for their actions.
"Youths were witnessed laughing and throwing food in the road in Llandudno. The occasions are many and its us that have to pick up the poor gulls wounded by monsters like these.
"For all we know people are doing it in different areas frequently causing injury or death to gulls that we have no idea about."
FFF founder Denise Theophilus said the charity was often left to pick up the pieces, after incidents.
She added: 'Who in their right mind would deliberately put these birds in danger by making them swoop onto roads to be hit by oncoming cars?
'It's definitely a trend, we're seeing more and more instances of it happening. And it's us that have to pick up the poor gulls wounded by monsters like these.'
Details of the incidents left members of the local community shocked.
One said: "What a sick trend. Whoever does this is a heartless waste of oxygen."
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BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Seagulls baited with food and run over across north Wales
Seagulls are being deliberately enticed into roads with food and then injured or killed by cars, according to a Foundation for Feathered Friends, (FFF) said the practice had increased over the past couple of years, with both adults and children spotted baiting the founder Denise Theophilus, 71, said the charity had received reports of food being deliberately thrown into roads in locations along the north Wales coast, including Prestatyn, Abergele and are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, like all wild birds, meaning it is illegal to intentionally kill or injure them. Ms Theophilus, 71, started the group to "balance the hatred" she had seen for gulls when she moved to north Wales. They are also considered a conservation concern with the six main gull species found in the UK, particularly herring gulls, in decline."I don't want gulls thinking all humans are like this," she added. Ms Theophilus said gulls were starving at this time of year and trying to feed their chicks, so would look for food wherever they can find it."I have lost track of all the messages that come in," she said."I was told about kids throwing food for gulls in Rhyl and watching as the cars nearly hit them."Children grow up thinking gulls are winged rats and it's OK to do whatever to them." She added that a volunteer had picked up a bird in Prestatyn on Sunday after a man had thrown food out of his vehicle and it was hit by a car when it flew down to get it. Five of the charity's volunteers have small pens and aviaries at their homes where injured and sick birds can be cared for, but Ms Theophilus said some birds could not recover enough to be released back into the wild. She added that nothing was being done to enforce the law on the issue and the police were "not interested"."It's really discouraging that no-one does anything," she Wales Police has been asked to comment.
Powys County Times
3 days ago
- Powys County Times
'Monsters' deliberately 'luring' seagulls to their deaths
A CHARITY says a sick trend has seen yobs throw food in front of cars - so seagulls get run over. Pictures show maimed birds scattered across roads after reports they had been deliberately 'lured' to their deaths. Bird lovers say they've been horrified by the brutal trend that involves food being thrown into the road as perpetrators watch on as they swoop down and get hit by unsuspecting drivers. Volunteers at the non-profit organisation Foundation for Feathered Friends (FFF) said there has been a rising number of incidents involving both youths and adults. A spokesperson said: "We've spotted food in the road enticing gulls to swoop in the road. " Gulls are a protected species and are on the Red List for Conservation. "An action like this is a deliberate attempt to make them swoop into the road and be hit by oncoming cars and has become something of a 'trend' in North Wales. "It has been witnessed in Abergele, Prestatyn, Rhyl and Llandudno to name a few areas. "Sometimes parents have been seen encouraging their children to do it. "On one occasion last year, in Rhyl, we witnessed four gulls lying in the road equidistantly with food near them. "Three were dead and we picked up one to try to help her but she did not make it. "We were also given a report of school children in their uniforms near their school, in Prestatyn, throwing food in the road for this purpose. "When we made a complaint to the school we were told they were not on school property and therefore the school were not responsible for their actions. "Youths were witnessed laughing and throwing food in the road in Llandudno. The occasions are many and its us that have to pick up the poor gulls wounded by monsters like these. "For all we know people are doing it in different areas frequently causing injury or death to gulls that we have no idea about." FFF founder Denise Theophilus said the charity was often left to pick up the pieces, after incidents. She added: 'Who in their right mind would deliberately put these birds in danger by making them swoop onto roads to be hit by oncoming cars? 'It's definitely a trend, we're seeing more and more instances of it happening. And it's us that have to pick up the poor gulls wounded by monsters like these.' Details of the incidents left members of the local community shocked. One said: "What a sick trend. Whoever does this is a heartless waste of oxygen."
Leader Live
3 days ago
- Leader Live
'Monsters' deliberately 'luring' seagulls to their deaths
Pictures show maimed birds scattered across roads after reports they had been deliberately 'lured' to their deaths. Bird lovers say they've been horrified by the brutal trend that involves food being thrown into the road as perpetrators watch on as they swoop down and get hit by unsuspecting drivers. Volunteers at the non-profit organisation Foundation for Feathered Friends (FFF) said there has been a rising number of incidents involving both youths and adults. A spokesperson said: "We've spotted food in the road enticing gulls to swoop in the road. "Gulls are a protected species and are on the Red List for Conservation. "An action like this is a deliberate attempt to make them swoop into the road and be hit by oncoming cars and has become something of a 'trend' in North Wales. MORE NEWS "It has been witnessed in Abergele, Prestatyn, Rhyl and Llandudno to name a few areas. "Sometimes parents have been seen encouraging their children to do it. "On one occasion last year, in Rhyl, we witnessed four gulls lying in the road equidistantly with food near them. "Three were dead and we picked up one to try to help her but she did not make it. "We were also given a report of school children in their uniforms near their school, in Prestatyn, throwing food in the road for this purpose. "When we made a complaint to the school we were told they were not on school property and therefore the school were not responsible for their actions. "Youths were witnessed laughing and throwing food in the road in Llandudno. The occasions are many and its us that have to pick up the poor gulls wounded by monsters like these. "For all we know people are doing it in different areas frequently causing injury or death to gulls that we have no idea about." FFF founder Denise Theophilus said the charity was often left to pick up the pieces, after incidents. She added: 'Who in their right mind would deliberately put these birds in danger by making them swoop onto roads to be hit by oncoming cars? 'It's definitely a trend, we're seeing more and more instances of it happening. And it's us that have to pick up the poor gulls wounded by monsters like these.' Details of the incidents left members of the local community shocked. One said: "What a sick trend. Whoever does this is a heartless waste of oxygen." Another said: "What a horrible human being. Who takes joy out of seeing birds suffer in this way."
