Worcester Council Considers Contraceptives for Seagulls

Worcester City Council is considering a controversial plan to administer contraceptives to seagulls in an effort to manage their growing population, particularly in the Blackpole area. The initiative, dubbed 'safe sex for seagulls' by Labour councillor Jill Desayrah, aims to address complaints from residents about aggressive behavior and mess caused by the birds. The city's annual gull population survey reported 376 pairs of gulls in the area, representing over half of Worcester's total gull population and a 3% increase from the previous year. Previous attempts to control the seagull numbers included hiring hawks and removing eggs, but officials are now looking to emulate successful contraceptive programs used for pigeons in cities like Barcelona and Venice. Desayrah has submitted the proposal to Worcestershire Regulatory Services, which is seeking the necessary permissions to proceed. An annual report on gull management will be presented to the city council's environment committee on November 5, 2023.