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North Wales Live
01-06-2025
- North Wales Live
Maimed seagulls scattered across roads as brutal 'trend' emerges in North Wales
Bird lovers have been left horrified by a brutal new 'trend' highlighted by a charity in North Wales. Campaigners claim they have mounting evidence people are throwing food onto roads and watching on as hungry seagulls swoop down to get hit by vehicles. Volunteers working for the Caernarfon -based Foundation for Feathered Friends (FFF) are reporting a rising number of apparent incidents on the North Wales coast. While some are said to involve youths, the charity claimed adults have also been seen enticing gulls onto busy roads. FFF founder Denise Theophilus said the charity was often left to pick up the pieces. 'We totally support the feeding of wild birds, especially gulls,' she said. 'Often they are emaciated when they arrive in coastal communities. But this is not the right way to do it. 'Who in their right mind would deliberately put these birds in danger by making them swoop onto roads to be hit by oncoming cars? We are aware that children will get up to all kinds of mischief – but adults doing this must have some kind of psychiatric issue. '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.' According to Denise, volunteers have reported examples from Abergele, Prestatyn, Rhyl and Llandudno. Given the number of casualties being treated by North Wales Wild Bird Care, FFF's sister group, she believes it is probably happening elsewhere. In one instance, Denise claimed food had been carefully laid out on a street in Rhyl. She said three car-hit gulls were found lying dead 'equidistantly' near the food. A fourth was still alive but later died. 'One of our volunteers was driving through Llandudno when she saw a group of youths throwing food onto a road,' she said. 'They were laughing as they watched cars come towards the gulls. She wanted to go back and disperse the kids but her husband didn't want to get involved.' Wind-blown litter is another reason why gulls dice with death on busy roads – social media videos have highlighted the dangers of carelessly discarded food cartons. However there's little online evidence of gratuitous clips showing gulls being deliberately enticed onto roads. Denise claimed the practice has been witnessed outside schools and in retail car parks. When images were shared online, bird lovers were left 'sickened' by the claims. One person called the practice 'shameful and inhuman', another said it was 'utterly disgraceful'. A man claimed some motorists deliberately target gulls. He said: 'I've seen a few birds, mainly gulls, laying in the road that have been run over on purpose." Herring gulls are a protected species and are on the Red List for Conservation. The RSPCA said people need to be careful when disposing of edible litter. A spokesperson said: 'Gulls can get a bad rap especially in seaside towns, and sadly are thought of by some as a pest. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox 'However, they are simply wild animals trying to survive in their surroundings, and deserve our kindness and respect. It's important for people to remember that they are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and it is illegal to intentionally harm any wild bird, except under licence.' Learning to live with gulls The RSPCA gives the following advice on living in harmony with gulls: In some seaside towns where people have fed gulls, they have learned to snatch food. Try to keep food to yourself but don't blame them if they can't tell the difference between scraps willingly offered and your bag of chips. Dispose of edible litter carefully – put it in gull-proof litter bins. Plastic bags left in the street are an open invitation for gulls to investigate. Gulls that swoop suddenly on people or pets are usually trying to protect chicks that have got out of the nest. If you see a gull chick leave it alone – its parents can look after it better than you. Gulls make the most noise between May and July when they are breeding. If gulls on your roof disturb you, or you are worried they may block a gas flue, you can prevent them from nesting there in future. Your local environmental health department or pest control company should be able to tell you about the devices available. It's illegal to disturb wild birds' nests and eggs, except under licence. Find out what's happening near you
North Wales Live
08-05-2025
- North Wales Live
Anger as driver runs over duck family, leaving orphans to fend for themselves
Distraught residents in Gwynedd have called for signage on a busy A road after a car ploughed into a line of baby ducks. One chick and its mother were killed, leaving the surviving babies to fend for themselves. Yesterday evening's incident (Tuesday, May 6) was witnessed by another motorist as he drove along the A499 near Llanbedrog on the Llŷn Peninsula. He said it was still light, the ducklings were in his view visible and the accident could have been avoided. 'I went back with a box to find the babies,' he said online. 'But they had gone unfortunately, hopefully they will survive.' Over the years local people have become accustomed to seeing duck families crossing the A499 between Carreg-y-Defaid and Penrhos. Horrified residents said the outcome was "absolutely disgusting". Most motorists stop to let them pass. 'Unbelievable!' said an Abersoch woman who came across the ducklings earlier in the day. 'They were in the road early on and we completely stopped and let them cross safely." Yet not all drivers afford them the same courtesy. A local tradesman said: 'Passed those ducks around the same time last night, heading to Pwllheli. Fortunately I saw them in good time and had to slow right down as they were about to cross my path, almost got rear ended by the van behind me. 'When he realised why I had come to an almost stop, the guy in the van was frantically waving the cars going towards Llanbedrog to slow down. None of them did, it was a miracle the ducks weren't hit then!' Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now Yesterday's incident was relayed to North Wales Wild Bird Care overnight. This morning the rescue group asked locals people to search the roadside for surviving ducklings and to box up any found. RSPCA Cymru said it was "really saddened" to hear of the incident. A spokesperson said: 'Wild animals are particularly vulnerable to the dangers of traffic, but during the current breeding season - when inexperienced baby wild animals may be out and about for the first time - the risks are even greater. 'So it's important to take extra care when driving at this time of the year; take note of wildlife warning signs, stay alert and keep your speed down." Three years ago a car drove into a duck family in nearby Pwllheli, killing an adult. However another survived to continue parental care for the ducklings. In 2021 a similar incident in Morfa Bychan, near Porthmadog, left six ducklings orphaned when their mother was run over. On that occasion, rescue attempts failed and people fear the same fate awaits the Llanbedrog survivors. 'It's very unlikely the other ducklings will survive without the mother to protect them,' said an Abersoch resident. 'There are too many predators over there.' Another person agreed: 'It's unlikely they'll have survived the night,' she said. Ducks are generally protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 if intent to harm is proved. Unlike many farmed animals however, they are are not covered by section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988: this only suggests that road-killed animals are reported to local councils - it's the same for cats and dogs. RSPCA Cymru said the public can often help wild animals in need. A spokesperson said: "Successful rescues of some young wild animals can be time-critical, so the faster they can be found treatment, the more likely there will be a successful outcome for them. 'Generally, the RSPCA is urging members of the public to be 'wildlife smart' this year - and for those who find sick, injured or orphaned young animals which do need help, and are small enough to handle safely, to take them to a nearby vet or reputable local rehabilitation centre. Vets treat small wildlife for free but the public are urged to call ahead first." The incident has triggered calls for signs warning of ducks crossing the road – invariably they waddle across the A499 at the same point each year. Get all the latest Gwynedd news by signing up to our newsletter - sent every Tuesday Residents in the North Yorkshire town of Thirsk have gone a step further: last autumn a group of 'duck wardens' came together to protect around 30 ducks and their chicks after four were killed.
