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<\/p>\nPsycho seagulls are causing sleep deprivation to fed-up residents and even stealing ducklings in a city plagued by attacks.<\/p>\n
One local, Gavin, warned the winged menaces are showing \u201cincreasingly aggressive behaviour\u201d in the picturesque city of Bath. He said they wake him up at 3am and stop him from getting back to sleep.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been impossible to escape sleep deprivation," Gavin said. "I had a sandwich snatched from my hand, drawing blood; I have been hit on the head by a gull while walking; and I have witnessed a gull take ducklings from the canal.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The city suffers particularly badly from the feathered thugs as its old Georgian buildings provide perfect places for the birds to nest. However, this latest plague is affecting residents of the new Riverside housing development.<\/p>\n
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The situation is so bad that Gavin, who moved to Riverside last year, was forced to \u201cseek refuge\u201d with family and friends for the sake of his health. He said: \u201cMy health and wellbeing have suffered from lack of sleep, anxiety, and being unable to concentrate with windows open, even in the stifling heat of summer.\u201d<\/p>\n
The birds and their nests are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, but Natural England can grant licences to control gulls by removing nests or eggs. Gavin, who preferred not to give his surname, has called on Bath and North East Somerset councillors to ask Natural England to tackle the gulls.<\/p>\n
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Another Bath resident said: \u201cThe noise starts at dawn which is 3-4am in the summer and is extremely disturbing and distressing. \u201cIt prevents you from sleeping properly which builds up over time to be a serious mental health hazard. This harm seems to be ignored.\u201d<\/p>\n
City Cllr June Player said: \u201cNatural England is protecting all birds; but who is protecting the residents?\u201d She called for flat roofs to be banned and warned that the plague of gulls is causing distress and misery to residents.<\/p>\n
Cllr Tim Ball, cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services, said: \u201cLike all councils, we are limited in what we can do about gulls. Natural England has very strict conditions about issuing licences for nest and egg removals because gulls are a protected species by law.\u201d<\/p>\n