MANY people find gulls to be a nuisance for several reasons - noise caused by gulls calling; mess caused by their droppings; damage to properties caused by gulls picking at roofing materials and by nests which block guttering; birds dive-bombing and swooping on animals and people - but the main one is food waste being scavenged.

At this time of year we see an increase in the number of seagulls ripping open rubbish bags and spreading it far and wide. Gulls go looking for food waste in any waste bags left unattended.

Our main recommendation is to stress that wherever possible we should avoid putting waste food in plastic rubbish bags.

Most residents have a separate brown waste food bin and this is the best way to keep waste food, which along with other recyclables are collected weekly.

Businesses have a duty of care regarding commercial waste and can take steps to prevent problems by not putting food waste out for collection too soon, and using seagull proof bags and bins.

The council’s environmental health team inspect food premises across Taunton Deane and advise all food business owners on their duties with regard to waste including disposal of food waste.

Putting waste food in plastic bags designed for non-recyclable waste should be avoided, if possible, as this can lead to odours, which make the bags more attractive to the gulls.

There is plenty of advice available on how to dispose of food waste from Somerset Waste Partnership www.somersetwaste.gov.uk.

A few residents, those in flats, for example, may not have food bins.

In that case, the best solution is to double bag food or food packaging, and put waste out as late as possible before 7am on collection day rather than leaving it out early and vulnerable to attack by cats or foxes as well as gulls.

Gull-proof sacks are also available to buy from various retailers.

Gulls are aggressive feeders and will steal food from other species and humans, so be aware that they may just be nearby.

Gulls will also be attracted to food waste that is dropped in streets and open spaces – half-eaten sandwiches for example - so please use the litter bins provided or take your waste home.

The best way to control these birds is to stop feeding them or giving them the opportunity to feed, and therefore attracting them to our towns and open spaces.

The best method to prevent gulls from nesting on your property is to proof against the birds so that nests are not built in the future.

Proofing materials that can be used include spikes on chimney pots, gutters, dormers etc and nets of the correct size to repel gulls.

Gull facts...

GULLS are a protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 – and are, in fact, classed as an endangered species.

Breeding pairs court in April and start nest building from early May onwards.

In towns, the nests can be constructed from straw, grass, twigs, paper and any other material the gull can conveniently use. These nests can be large and if they are made of material collected over several years, they can become heavy. This means that if a breeding site is established, then the gulls will return year after year.

Eggs are laid from early May onwards with two or three being the usual number. The eggs take about three weeks to hatch, which means the first chicks are seen around the beginning of June.

The chicks grow quickly and are active, which means they often fall from their nests. In town this often means that they are unable to return to their nests.

Small chicks will die if they are not returned, but the larger chicks will be protected by their parents and fed on the ground.

The chicks generally fledge in August and then take about three years to reach maturity when they, in turn, will start to breed.

The life expectancy for gulls can be up to 20 years. Gulls are social creatures and once roof nesting becomes established, other gulls will start to move in to an area and nest on adjacent buildings, until their numbers build up enough that a colony is established.