Did you know that there is no specific bird that is known as a ‘seagull’? ‘Gull’ is the more appropriate term. They don’t live exclusively near the sea and there are actually many species of gull, some of which include the Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Franklin’s Gull, and Bonaparte’s Gull.
With that fun-fact aside, gulls are protected by the Migratory Birds Convention Act in Canada. General prohibitions under this Act and its regulations protect migratory birds, their nests, and eggs. Ivory Gulls and Ross’s Gulls are also protected under the federal Species at Risk Act and there may also be provincial acts that could apply.
If you’d like to keep gulls away from your property, make sure you don’t feed them. They’ll continue to happily return for handouts! Below are a few other suggestions to try that don’t require a permit if they are likely to cause damage and if no nests are present. If a nest is present, contact the Canadian Wildlife Service for advice (contact information is below).
⦁ Owls are a predator of gulls. Use a fake owl decoy to scare them away, being sure to move the owl frequently.
⦁ Spinning wheels that move in the wind often act as a deterrent. If they’re shiny, even better!
⦁ The colour red – some say this is one colour that gulls will avoid. Not sure how well it works but it could be worth a try!
⦁ Shiny tape ribbon – hang some shiny tape ribbon from trees, buildings, pergolas, and more to create a visual disturbance to deter gulls.
As in most cases, the more of these you use the more potential for success! If you have any questions regarding management techniques and the protections provided by the Migratory Birds Convention Act, contact the Canadian Wildlife Service, a branch of Environment and Climate Change Canada.
