Moray Councillor Draeyk van der Horn is calling on the public to learn to live harmoniously with seagulls

A Moray Councillor is calling for the community to ignore a Tory politician’s calls for a seagull cull - and learn to live with the birds instead.

Highlands and Islands MSP Douglas Ross (Conservative) claimed lives could be lost following gull attacks in towns and villages if action is not taken to address the “growing problem” - he has also criticised NatureScot and the Scottish Government for failing to protect from the “menace of dangerous gulls”.

However, Cllr Draeyk van der Horn (Forres, Greens) argues that the birds get a raw deal from their human neighbours, particularly in light of the feathered friends’ habitat loss and basic need for survival.

He explained: “Gulls come into towns because their natural homes are disappearing. Across the country, the cliffs, wetlands, and islands where gulls once nested are being lost to coastal development and erosion.

“Overfishing has wiped out much of their food. Pollution, especially plastics and toxic chemicals, causes them illness and death. Rising sea levels and marine heatwaves are changing where fish live, and bird flu is hitting gull colonies hard.

“With fewer options, gulls are moving into towns to survive. They nest on roofs, look for food in bins, and scavenge in the streets.”

Cities, towns and villages offer the birds shelter and food but this can lead to conflict with the resident populations - of people.

“It’s usually just a few bold birds protecting their chicks during nesting season,” said cllr van der Horn. “Figures from a freedom of information request in 2022 show that no one has been admitted to hospital in the NHS Grampian area due to sea bird attacks in the last three years demonstrate they pose little threat to humans.”

Moray Council spent £27,000 on sonic devices to scare gulls from nesting in built-up areas including Elgin’s St Giles Centre. The scheme worked short term but in nearby areas such as New Elgin, gulls are still reported, known as the “dispersal effect.”

Cllr van der Horn believes that, without dealing with food waste, poor bins and easy nesting spots, these devices are merely a quick fix.

He highlighted the advice of wildlife experts who confirm that long-term solutions include: improving waste systems so gulls can’t find easy meals; running education campaigns to stop people feeding the birds; and designing towns with fewer nesting opportunities.

“These smart, humane steps actually work,” he added. “Some areas have seen gull problems drop by 70 per cent without harming birds or relying on costly gadgets.

“We need to stop polluting, stop destroying habitats, and give wildlife a chance to thrive in their natural environments.”

Scotland’s wildlife agency, NatureScot, only gives permission to deal with gulls if there is a serious public health risk.

Species including the Herring Gull and Common Gull are on the ‘Red List’ for ‘Birds of Conservation Concern’ - some populations have fallen by 75 per cent.

“Gulls are legally protected for a number of reasons,” said cllr van der Horn. “They clean up waste, keep ecosystems in balance, and show us how healthy - or unhealthy - our environment really is.

“Gulls are part of our towns now and all wildlife deserves care. Let’s change the mindset: they aren’t invaders, they’re adapting to the world we’ve changed. Let’s stop blaming gulls for problems we created.”