Britain's war on seagulls

SAVOURING the moment before the first bite of a pasty on a beautiful sunny day, Pamela, a holidaymaker, gazed across Porthgwidden beach in St Ives, on the Cornish coast. She didn't see the seagull until it was too late. The bird missed the pasty but took a chunk out of her hand. Blood poured down her arm and the seagull squawked away.Seagull attacks are a big problem in coastal settlements, where about a tenth of Britons live. Politicians want change. On February 7th Oliver Colvile, MP for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport, led a debate in Parliament about the menace. MPs shared their horror stories. John Woodcock, who represents Barrow and Furness on the north-west coast, spoke of the 'blighted and besieged people' of his embattled constituency.It is difficult to fight back against the feathered fiends. All species of gull are protected, making a widespread cull impossible. Yet polls suggest that most Britons'normally a sentimental bunch when it comes to animals'would like the legislation changed. Brexiteers point out that, after leaving the EU, Britain will be able to set more bloodthirsty conservation policies.Those in the...Continue reading
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