The decline in gull numbers must be a cause for concern. However, having once lived in a much gull-colonised town, I’d like to advance an alternative view to Sophie Pavelle’s (Trying to get rid of noisy, food-stealing gulls is missing the point – it’s humans who are the pests, 8 June).
Urban gulls excrete guano copiously. It covers cars, buildings and streets in a steady, noxious rain. As a corrosive substance it damages paintwork on buildings and paint on cars, guttering and ironwork, such as railings. As a fertiliser it boosts the growth of weeds on roofs and pavements, blocking drainage systems.
Consequently, an enormous, expensive amount of repainting, woodwork replacement, guttering replacement, roofing repairs, pavement cleaning, car washing and car respraying must occur – all of these, in their way, ultimately creating substantial damage to the environment (paint, cleaning agents, building materials) at a high cost to local authorities.
Some towns, such as Exmouth, avoid this by mounting campaigns to prevent gull-feeding. What also needs to occur is the restoration of habitats where gulls once lived – not a defence of their invasive and polluting presence in towns. Their webbed feet prove they are not naturally urban dwellers, after all.
Richard Ellis
Derby
• Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
