A family have become prisoners in their own home after being subjected by "psycho" seagulls.
Dad Dave Baker, 43, says he has been frequently dive-bombed in "co-ordinated attacks" while braving the walk to the local shops. It has gotten to the point where mum Nicki, 41, must phone ahead and ask daughter Katrina, 10, to grab a garden parasol on the way home.
“OMG they are dangerous,” sighed Nicki. “Yesterday it took me three attempts to get home.
“It’s very stressful for us as a family. On school days, Dave has to go outside first and open the car door so that Katrina can dash outside without being attacked.”
It's not just the family who have become victims to the seagulls, however. On Monday the postman was dive-bombed while the family's pet Staffie is often chased back inside, North Wales Live reports.
“She’s a big, strapping dog but she’s terrified of them,” said Nicki. “And she’s supposed to be a dangerous breed!”
The family moved into the seaside bungalow in Kinmel Bay, Conwy, North Wales, two years ago before discovering it was a favoured nesting sport for Herring Gulls. It appears the problems began after a chick fell from the roof and injured its wing.
“The parents seemed to blame us and the dog,” said Nicki It is common for seagulls to become aggressive when protecting their nesting sites.
A roofer has been called on two occasions and refused to repair the roof due to the seagull's horrifying presence which means the family must now also endure leaks as well as bullying from the birds. The gulls are protected by law and it is illegal to remove their eggs or disturb their nests.
“I’m worried for the safety of my wife and daughter,” Dave said. “If the birds were a pest, like rats, you could lay down poison.
"But the authorities seem to think human life is worth less than that of a flying rodent. If my daughter gets injured, however, I will take action.” While taking the pet dog for walks, Dave has learned to protect himself.
“Sometimes he takes a garden broom for extra protection,” said Nicki, who works for health food firm Juice Plus+. “When I go out by myself, I have a walking stick to fend off the birds. I used to carry an umbrella but it wasn’t very practical.
“Usually they prefer to attack in groups and dive-bomb you one at a time, like it’s coordinated. They swoop down, with claws out and they can get very close. They are psychos.
“Mostly it’s just us they target but some passersby get attacked too. The other day I saw a dog walker waving a plastic bag over her head as she tried to get away.”
While Dave and Nicki have no desire to harm the birds, they said they would prefer it if they didn't return every year. Some solutions are being explored by the family, but no result has come from it yet.
“But I’ve seen gulls nesting on roofs with spikes, so I’m not sure how effective they are,” said Nicki. Despite the aggression from the seagulls, the chick who fell off the roof remains injured and continues to wander the street.
Unfortunately, no one is able to approach it without being attacked. “We may just have to wait for it to die,” shuddered Dave.
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