Seagulls won't steal your food at beach if you wear this popular pattern
With summer fast approaching, many people will already be making plans to head to the beach to enjoy some of the British seaside classics, like ice cream or fish and chips. However, nothing manages to spoil these treats quite like seagulls diving to steal your food.
While seagulls may not be picky eaters, it turns out that it could be your outfit choice that deters them from stealing your food. Because wearing clothing with certain patterns might well mean you are left alone to enjoy your ice cream cone or poke of chips, says one expert.
Speaking to Dojo, a card payment provider, Dr Neeltje Boogert, a research fellow in behavioural ecology, explained that seagulls and other animals are put off by certain patterns.
Dr Boogert said: "Many animals find highly contrasting patterns aversive, like zebra stripes or wasp/bee patterns.
"So there's a chance they might initially be less keen to snatch ice creams, with alternating white (or yellow) and black stripes.
" Gulls learn about food from people, and they're super generalist foragers, so anything that people eat, gulls will eat as well.
"Although it should be noted that they're less keen on vegetables."
Dr Boogert's top tips to protect your food from seagulls
Keep your eye on any gulls around you
Gulls find the human gaze aversive and are less likely to approach your food when you're staring them down.
Block and obstruct seagulls when eating
Eat underneath a parasol, umbrella, roof, or narrowly-spaced bunting, or with your back against a wall. Gulls need an easy or unobstructed approach and escape route if they're going to steal your food.
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They will approach from behind, which is blocked when you're standing against a wall, and they're not comfortable flying underneath roofs or bunting.
Never leave a bag unzipped
Cover your food and zip up bags as they're very familiar with grocery bags, crisp packets, and pastry bags, and they will rifle through your bags if unattended.
Do not feed the gulls
Human food is bad for their health, and feeding encourages stealing.
Dojo also advises business owners to be aware of these seagull deterrent tips, as seagulls flocking to cafes or restaurants can discourage customers from purchasing, especially seaside cafes that serve food.
Business owners should not feed seagulls and should also discourage patrons from doing so. They should also avoid leaving food outside and provide bins that close to minimise the risk of attracting seagulls.
Ensuring food waste is disposed of properly, and that customers do not feed the birds will not only keep premises tidy, but also help deter seagulls from gathering nearby.
It was revealed last year that Aberdeen is reportedly home to the UK's worst seagulls described as "another level of psychotic" and "out for blood."
The country's most aggressive seagulls, dubbed 'XL Gullies', were terrorising residents by stealing food, launching attacks and even shoplifting, with one resident branding them as 'hyper aggressive'.
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