Pest controllers have seen a huge surge in callouts to deal with angry birds.
And the aggressive squawkers are swarming around Dublin – with nearly half of all emergency calls made in the capital.
Between January and June Rentokil experienced an 86% increase in calls to deal with birds, such as seagulls, compared to the same period in 2018.
Dublin accounted for 42% of all calls, followed by Kildare, Sligo and Louth.
Rentokil’s Richard Faulkner said: “We encourage members of the public to treat seagulls with caution and keep their distance from them where possible, as they are at their most aggressive at this time of year.As the weather improves and people start spending more time outside this summer, this is also the period of time where people and seagulls are most likely to cross paths.”
As well as their anti-social behaviour, seagulls and pigeons can pose a number of other health risks.
Their droppings contain bacteria including E.coli and salmonella and can lead to the spread of infections through surface contamination, inhaling bacteria from dried droppings, or being transferred by bird mites, which can bite both people and birds.
Bird mites, textile beetles and fleas are attracted to birds’ nests and roosting sites.
The presence of seagulls at a home or business can also bring about infestations from these insects.
Mr Faulkner shared several tips to reduce the chances of run-ins with angry birds.
He said: “To discourage the
presence of seagulls and other pest birds from your home or business, you should ensure to keep any possible food sources well hidden.
“Another important step is to make sure bin lids are secure and rubbish bags are not left in the open, as gulls have sharp beaks that will make short work of bin bags.”
