Legal protection of gulls
Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is illegal to:
- capture, injure, or destroy any wild bird
- disturb their nests or eggs
We are not legally required to manage urban gulls.
Property owner responsibilities
Property owners are responsible for:
- preventing gulls from nesting on their buildings
- avoiding actions that attract gulls, for example, leaving food waste accessible
Gulls may choose nesting sites based on easy access to food.
For guidance on deterrence visit:
Removing nests and eggs
We do not offer a gull nest or egg removal service.
NatureScot oversees licensed activities such as nest or egg removal. If gulls are preparing to nest near your property, further advice is available from NatureScot.
Learn more about Gull Management
What to do if you find a fledgling
If a chick falls from a nest:
- do not feed or interfere
- adult gulls will continue to care for their fledglings
If the chick is injured or adult gulls display aggressive behaviour protecting the chick, contact the Scottish SPCA
Do not feed the gulls campaign
Feeding gulls may seem kind, but it causes serious problems:
- encourages aggressive behaviour
- disrupts natural foraging
- introduces harmful foods
- increases urban nesting
- leads to littering and health issues
Help us encourage gulls to return to natural food sources by refraining from feeding them.