Example Letter to your Local Councillors
Below is an example of a letter you can send to your local councillors asking them to oppose a cull of gulls in your area.
A councillor’s role is to represent and advocate for those that live in their area and to provide a bridge between the community and the council. If the cull is being carried out by your local council, you can ask one or more of your local councillors to approach the council on your behalf. If the cull is on private property, for example, a shop, they may still get involved.
If you can, please personalise the words, as this helps your letter have more impact, especially if other residents are also writing to them.
Dear Councillor [Name]
I am writing as a resident of [your area] as I have discovered that the council is planning to cull gulls at [location].
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:
- Animal Aid’s ‘Alternatives to Culling’ booklet: https://www.animalaid.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/alternativestoculling2022-4.pdf
- Animal Aid’s Birds Advice sheet: https://www.animalaid.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Birds-advice-sheet_May2019.pdf
As my local councillor I ask that you raise this issue within the council, asking them to reconsider their decision to cull gulls and instead opt for non-lethal humane methods.
Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
[Name]
[Address]
Find the contact details for your local councillors