Gull season is fast approaching! Does your site have a gull management plan to keep your staff and visitors safe? Compliance Pest Control can help.

Compliance Pest
14 minutes ago
3 min read

Gull season brings more than just noisy birds to your site. As seagulls become more active during breeding season, they can create serious health and safety risks for your staff and disrupt daily operations. Without a tailored gull management plan, your site may face property damage, increased risk of injury, and regulatory challenges. Compliance Pest Control offers expert solutions designed specifically for your site’s needs to keep your workplace safe and compliant.

Why gulls become a problem during breeding season

Seagulls are highly territorial during their breeding season, which typically runs from March to July in the UK. During this time, gulls:

Defend nesting sites aggressively, sometimes dive-bombing people nearby
Leave droppings that can damage buildings and contaminate surfaces
Scavenge for food, often creating litter and attracting other pests
Cause noise disturbances that affect staff concentration and wellbeing

Sites near coastlines, water bodies, or open land are especially vulnerable. Without a plan, gull activity can escalate quickly, leading to increased risks of injury and costly damage.

Health and safety risks posed by gulls

Their droppings may contain pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can contaminate food preparation areas or machinery. Physical risks include:

Slips and falls caused by droppings on walkways and stairs
Injuries from aggressive gull attacks, especially to the head and eyes
Damage to roofing, vents, and solar panels from nesting materials and droppings
Flooding from nesting

Staff working outdoors or on rooftops face the highest risks. A gull management plan helps reduce these hazards by controlling gull presence and educating staff on safe practices.

What a tailored gull management plan includes

Every site has unique challenges, so a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work. Compliance Pest Control creates gull management plans based on your site’s layout, gull activity, and operational needs. Key components include:

Site survey and risk assessment to identify gull hotspots and vulnerable areas
Physical deterrents such as bird spikes, netting, and wires to prevent nesting
Visual and auditory deterrents like visual kite deterrents and distress calls from a bio-acoustic unit to discourage gull presence
Regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure deterrents remain effective
Staff training on gull behaviour, safety precautions, and reporting procedures
Waste management advice to reduce food sources that attract gulls

This comprehensive approach reduces gull numbers safely and humanely while protecting your site and staff.

Practical steps you can take now

While waiting for a professional gull management plan, you can start reducing risks with these actions:

Keep waste bins securely closed and clean up food scraps promptly
Remove or cover potential nesting materials like cardboard or loose debris
Avoid feeding gulls or leaving food waste accessible
Install temporary visual deterrents such as shiny objects or balloons
Inform staff about gull behaviour and encourage reporting of aggressive birds

These simple steps can reduce gull attraction and protect your team until a full plan is in place.

Why choose Compliance Pest Control for gull management

Compliance Pest Control has years of experience managing gull problems across various industries. Our team understands the legal and environmental considerations involved in gull control and uses humane methods that comply with wildlife protection laws. Benefits of working with them include: