Closed petition Remove legal protections for the Herring Gull

Closed on 1 March 2023

It's a criminal offence to cause harm to wild birds, including the Herring Gull, without a licence. Licenses are difficult to obtain. Legal protections for Herring Gulls should be removed to make it easier for councils and householders to deal with these birds, for example removing nests from roofs.

Herring Gulls now nest widely in urban areas. These birds are extremely noisy, damage property, and cause palpable distress to many, both adults and children, stealing food from their hands, frightening the latter especially and causing many people to avoid eating outdoors. Herring Gulls are large and can be aggressive, especially in breeding season, They confer few benefits on the world at large or humankind specifically. Legal protections for Herring Gulls should be removed.