A Scots town has come under siege from aggressive seagulls stealing food from shops and out of people's mouths.
Residents in Dumfries have told how the gulls have 'dive-bombed' people eating their fish and chips and been spotted wandering into an Iceland supermarket to steal food.
Marcie Lindsay spoke to the BBC this week, saying: "In our street, they're actually on the roofs of the houses. My house gets the sun all day so my bedroom gets the sun all day and I can't keep my windows open during the night to even let any kind of cool air in because they're squawking.
"They're swooping on us now that the babies have hatched. The cars in our street are absolutely covered in bird poo.
"I think it was last year or the year before there was somebody eating a bit of food. A seagull came down to attack him and I threw my purse at it to try and get it away.
"It's ridiculous. I've even seen them going into Iceland and bringing food out of Iceland."
Seagull nesting season typically runs from May-June until chicks are born. The birds use swooping attacks to fend off what they see as threats to their eggs and young.
Attacks have been so bad in the town that last year a group called on MSPs to intervene.
Anne Lindsay from Loreburn Community Council told how children have been left bruised by the swooping gulls. She said: "In previous years we have had reports of actual physical injury. So the gulls swooping as the food goes in the mouth from the human.
"And some people reported being bruised or their children being bruised. So that has happened, no question about that.
"We can't ever let our guard down when it comes to gulls. We have to keep on and monitor what is happening, monitor the severity."
Despite the complaints, councils have no statutory duty to take action against gulls and they are limited to what they can actually do, as they are a protected species. Some put spikes on schools to try and protect pupils but it is an offense to disturb any nesting birds, unless they are causing a public health concern.
Steps to take to protect yourself from sweeping gulls at bay
Seagull attacks on humans are rare but as fiercely protective parents they can be very noisy and aggressive around breeding season.
- Don't drop food or litter and make sure leftover food is disposed of properly which cannot be pulled out of the bin.
- Be aware of gull nesting sites and be cautious when passing them as parents could perceive you as a threat.
- Keep your distance from any gull nests of chicks you see on the ground. If it is impossible to avoid, move with care and hold an open umbrella above your head.
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