Council urged to take action after complaints about seagulls in Buncrana

The use of contraceptives to control seagull populations has been mentioned by a Buncrana councillor who wants action taken to reduce the number of the birds in the town. 

Cllr Rena Donaghy raised the issue of the scourge of seagulls in Buncrana at the April meeting of the Inishowen Municipal District.

She said that people in the town have been complaining about the number of seagulls.

People feeding seagulls has led to there being “so many seagulls about” in areas around the town’s beaches and the shorefront.

She asked the council to erect signs asking the public not to feed seagulls in the town. 

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“People are giving out that their windows and their walls are being destroyed,” she said.

The Fianna Fáil councillor also mentioned that the idea of using contraceptives to reduce seagulls has been considered “in England and in other places”. 

Her comments prompted laughing in the council chamber.

Contraceptives have been used in Belgium to reduce populations of seagulls and pigeons and Dublin City Council has been asked to consider similar action in parts of the capital.