Example Letter to Organisers of a Cull of Gulls

The first person you should contact is the organiser. You can email, write or speak to them on the phone or face to face.

Below is an example of a letter you can send to a person or organisation planning a cull of gulls in your area. If you can, please personalise the words, as this helps your letter have more impact, especially if other residents are also contacting them.

Dear [Name] 

I was shocked to see that [who] are planning to cull gulls at [location]. As a local resident I am asking you to reconsider.  

I, like many people, enjoy seeing gulls and other wildlife in our local area. To persecute and kill these beautiful birds is likely to be extremely unpopular with people. All seven breeding gull species are birds of conservation concern, and the herring gull is red listed because of severe declines in their breeding population. In a world where wildlife is rapidly declining, we should be encouraging wildlife rather than destroying what remains.  

Methods used to cull gulls, such as trapping and then bludgeoning the gulls to death, are cruel and can cause terrible suffering. Shooting birds can never be entirely accurate, so wounded birds may be left to die in agony. Shooting can also pose a danger to the public and other wildlife. Gulls generally mate with one partner for life, then work as a couple to find food, build a nest, and raise chicks. Killing one gull can affect the whole family. 

As well as being cruel, killing gulls does not work, so it is a waste of resources. If there is a good source of food in an area and the environment remains attractive, any reduction in numbers will quickly be replaced by other birds.  

There are many cost-effective humane alternatives to culling. For gulls, these include reducing the food available by ensuring streets are kept clean and street bins are emptied, blocking access to regular breeding sites and employing physical deterrents, such as balloon-kites. 

These, and other methods, are explained in the following resources: 

  1. Animal Aid’s ‘Alternatives to Culling’ booklet: https://www.animalaid.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/alternativestoculling2022-4.pdf 
  2. Animal Aid’s Birds Advice sheet: https://www.animalaid.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Birds-advice-sheet_May2019.pdf 

You may also want to get in touch with Humane Wildlife Solutions to help you find an ethical solution. Their telephone number is 07771 361226. 

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely, 

 

[Name] 

Local resident 

Add your phone number if you are happy to discuss this on the phone.
 

 

Tips 

  • If your local council is carrying out the cull you may want to say how you object to your council tax money being wasted on such a cruel and pointless exercise.  
  • Include details of other actions you have taken or are planning to take, such as starting a petition or writing to your local councillors.  
  • If you haven’t received a response in two weeks, we suggest contacting them again, to check they have received your letter. Â