It is enough. Stealing fish sandwiches will be taboo for herring gulls in the future, at least in Sønderborg in Denmark. The birds are threatened with being shot down, that’s how the small coastal town not far from the border with Germany is now regulating this. Too often the animals are after people’s treats.
So fish sandwiches are a serious matter, but not the only problem – and by no means the biggest. The animals “scream, shit and steal,” the Schleswig-Holsteinische Zeitungsverlag (SHZ) quotes restaurateurs from the 28,000-inhabitant town of Sønderborg. And seagulls are omnivores. Actually, nature meant it well, as birds also eat sick and dead animals. This is why they are often referred to as the “health police.” Only: If in doubt, they can settle for fries, pizza, kebab – and fish sandwiches.
Seagulls aren’t just causing trouble in Denmark. Similar complaints come from German coastal towns on the North and Baltic Seas. Islands like Sylt are also affected. But also a big city like Berlin. Herring gulls can live up to 30 years and prefer to live in coastal areas where there is easy access to food. But the food supply is dwindling, so they seek proximity to people’s delicacies.
Sønderborg has long let the birds do as they please, but is now forced to act because seagulls are encroaching further and further into built-up areas, “where they fish food from garbage cans, steal from plates in restaurants and steal eggs and young from smaller birds,” like the city writes on her website.
To combat the plague, the city has decided: From February 1st to April 15th of each year, anyone who gets a permit can shoot herring gulls with weapons. From April 1st to July 31st it is permitted to destroy eggs and nests. And from April 16th to August 31st you can shoot young herring gulls.
In other cities that allowed seagulls to be shot a long time ago, the situation has hardly improved. In nearby Aalborg, the animals have been allowed to be shot for 20 years, according to Danish broadcaster DR. A noticeable effect? None. The animals always returned, and the city hunter’s funding could be canceled in 2026.
So then it continues to be: fish sandwiches for everyone? In any case, the city of Sønderborg does not want to rely solely on the possible shooting. She gives residents tips on how they can take steps to prevent seagulls from settling on properties. There should be no opportunity for the birds to eat, for example from birdhouses, open bins or containers. Nest building on flat roofs can be prevented with a robotic lawnmower running around. Bird spikes – such as those found on train station buildings – are also recommended. But those responsible in Sønderborg also know who they are dealing with. As a precaution, the city tells its residents: “Seagulls are smart and that’s why it’s hard to avoid them.”