Animals Biologists test methods for repelling seagulls
British biologists have a tip to ward off annoying seagulls: visitors to English seaside resorts who don't want to have their fish and chips stolen from their hands should simply shout at the feathered pests.
12.11.2025, 15:53
SDA
According to a study published on Wednesday in the journal "Biology Letters", a shouting male voice was the most effective of three defense methods tested in nine coastal resorts in Cornwall in the southwest of England.
The behavioral researchers from the University of Exeter placed a portion of fish and chips in front of the seagulls and then played various sound recordings. First a male voice shouting: "No, get away, that's my food, that's my pie!", then the same words in a calm voice and finally the song of a robin.
Shouting helps more than speaking
Out of 21 gulls that were shouted at, ten flew away and three ran away. Eight stayed put. Of 20 gulls that were spoken to, only three flew away. Ten walked away and seven stayed put. The robin, on the other hand, made almost no impression on the gulls: out of 20 gulls, only three flew away and three walked away - 14 stayed put.
"The gulls were more likely to fly away when people shouted and more likely to run away when people spoke," says researcher Neeltje Boogert, summarizing the results. "So if you want to scare away a seagull that is trying to steal your food, talking may deter it at first, but shouting is much more effective at getting it to fly away."
