Postal deliveries under threat - aggressive seagulls

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Postal deliveries under threat as aggressive seagulls plague street

http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/news/ ... ticle.html

POSTAL deliveries to some Paignton properties are under threat from swooping seagulls.

The aggressive gulls, in groups of up to 20, have been diving on unsuspecting posties in a scene reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock's classic film The Birds.

And, the airborne aggressors' attacks have resulted in Royal Mail sending out notifications to residents, saying deliveries to some properties in Berry Drive could be halted.

The Royal Mail insisted there were no plans to suspend deliveries and said it was continuing 'to make every effort to get mail to customers' in Berry Drive.

But one resident claimed today that she had not received any post since last week, while her neighbour had been told to pick up his mail up from the sorting office.

The gulls, which are nesting on residents' roofs, are seeing postmen and residents as a threat to their chicks, so they are dive-bombing them.

None of the postmen have reportedly been hit so far, but two neighbours have been left with gashes to their heads after gull attacks.

A Royal Mail notification letter sent out to residents said: "I'm writing to let you know that we're experiencing difficulties in delivering mail to your address because of the actions of seagulls nesting at your property.

"As a result, a health-and-safety risk assessment has been carried out and has determined that the level of threat requires action to be taken to ensure the safety of our delivery staff.

"While Royal Mail is committed to providing a consistent daily delivery to all addresses, we also place the highest priority on the safety of our employees."

The notification asks residents to provide an alternative delivery site for postmen to drop off parcels and letters.

Teressa Lamble, one of the residents who received the Royal Mail notification, said: "Only two of us in the road have had the notification.

"It came on Saturday, but why are we being picked on? My problem is not with the gulls or with the postmen — it's with the Royal Mail.

"They say I have to make alternative arrangements for my mail to be delivered, but they haven't specified what that could be. I'm bewildered. What do they expect me to do?

"I'm quite happy to go to the mail office or even meet the postman up the road if they ring me.

"I don't know if a postman has been attacked, but two neighbours have nasty cuts on the head after being attacked.

"There are at least three nests on properties here. We've tried everything to get rid of the gulls, but each year they're here. We all go out with umbrellas up."

In a statement to the Herald Express, the Royal Mail said: "We continue to make deliveries to customers in Berry Drive, but there have been recent incidents where our staff have been attacked by up to 20 seagulls, making it difficult to access all addresses in the street.

"We continue to make every effort to get mail to customers and there are no plans to suspend deliveries to Berry Drive."

[plainpat]

Issue the postie with a 12 bore shotgun

[brothermagrew]

Issue the postie with a 12 bore shotgun

Unfortunately brother seagulls are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, making it an offence to kill the birds or interfere with their nests. Culling the birds is illegal, and putting poisonous food down is unethical as there's no guarantee the gull would be the consumer. One obvious solution is to go back to burning household rubbish, but supporters of the Clean Air Act would be up in arms. Attempts to scare the opportunistic gulls away from residential streets include an electronic bird scarer which mimics a gull in distress, but one homeowner said it had no effect on the birds and only upset the local human population.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A48674361" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[DGP1]

I could lend them my cat..................she's taken on bigger than seagulls (TBH anything that comes into her gaze is fair game)

[apple]

one of the lads got a gash on the head from a gull last year
today i got s**t on all over my head, used to getting s**t on with this firm!
will ask the dum to take the mail tomorrow as i am sick of getting s**t on!
and yes i know it's lucky!

[POSTMAN]

Seagulls,Cats,what's next?

[brothermagrew]

Foxes

[BELIAL]

MP's; venture capitalists;hedge funds?

[glenfiddich]

Foxes

the fox attacking kiddies problem was solved when gary glitter was arrested with a basil brush puppet

[Fishyfingers]

We've had a Gull problem here for years,Advice by management "wear your cycle helmet"

[plainpat]

Issue the postie with a 12 bore shotgun

Unfortunately brother seagulls are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, making it an offence to kill the birds or interfere with their nests. Culling the birds is illegal, and putting poisonous food down is unethical as there's no guarantee the gull would be the consumer. One obvious solution is to go back to burning household rubbish, but supporters of the Clean Air Act would be up in arms. Attempts to scare the opportunistic gulls away from residential streets include an electronic bird scarer which mimics a gull in distress, but one homeowner said it had no effect on the birds and only upset the local human population.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A48674361" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I meant use them on the house owners

Only joking

Appreciate the info