'Psycho' seagulls have led to a family claiming they almost feel like prisoners in their own home. They say they've even had to arm themselves with brooms and walking sticks and only take their dog out for short walks while holding a garden parasol.
Dave Baker, 43, has been dive-bombed in 'co-ordinated attacks' on several occasions as he runs to the local shops. Now if the birds are lying in wait, his partner, 41 year-old Nicki, must phone ahead and ask their daughter Katrina to bring the garden parasol to make sure she makes it home safely.
Nicki told North Wales Live: "OMG they are dangerous. Yesterday it took me three attempts to get home."
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She added: “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.”
Just this week the local postman was dive-bombed by the seagulls and even the family dog is regularly attacked outside their home in Kinmel Bay, Conwy, Wales. The dog is called Jessie and is a fully grown staffy-cross-collie and she often runs back inside the home with her tail in between her legs.
Nicki said: "She’s a big, strapping dog but she’s terrified of them. And she’s supposed to be a dangerous breed!”
The family have lived in their seaside bungalow for two years. Once they moved in they soon realised that the property was a place nesting spot for Herring Gulls but they only reached their true proportions this year when a chick fell from the roof.
Nicki said: "The parents seemed to blame us and the dog." The chick appears to have an injured wing and is not helping the anger from the birds.
It is common for Seagulls to be aggressive when they are protecting their nesting sites. It is also well known that they will dive-bomb, defect or vomit on anyone who they see as a threat to their nest. One roofer has refused twice to repair the family's roof due to a fear of getting attacked by the birds. That means the family now faces leaks as well as the birds that have a 6ft wingspan.
The law protects Seagulls and it is in fact illegal for you to remove their eggs or disturb their nest once they have started nesting. Dad Dave is aware of the laws but is frustrated that human safety comes second in this situation.
Amazon driver Dave has said: "I’m worried for the safety of my wife and daughter. 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.”
The family live in a cul-de-sac just 300 yards from the beach but their everyday life is now subject to the gulls. Ten-year-old Katrina's trampoline now sits outside unused and Dave is forced to plan ahead when doing the recycling outside.
However one job that they can't avoid is taking dog Jessie for a wee but they do that on the communal green outside of the bungalow. Previously Dave learnt the hard way to take the dog without any protection now he leaves the house with the garden parasol up.
Nicki said: "Sometimes he takes a garden broom for extra protection. 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.”
The pair have accepted that living alongside seagulls is a price you have to pay when living by the seaside. They have no wish to harm the gulls but simply wish they wouldn't return every year.
They have looked at solutions to the ongoing issue including netting and spikes that can be placed over the nesting areas. Nicki said: "But I’ve seen gulls nesting on roofs with spikes, so I’m not sure how effective they are."
For the time being the family must wait until the chick leaves the nest and the parents have nothing to protect. However there is concern surrounding the chick's injuries as it continues to wander the street.
Nobody wants to go near the poor injured chick in fear of being attacked by its parents. Dave shuddered and said: "We may just have to wait for it to die."
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