Psycho seagulls are feared to be distracting council chiefs from tackling Britain’s monster rat invasion.
Pen-pushers are spending so much time and cash on bird-brained ways to “gull-proof” buildings from winged pests they have no time to tackle the huge rodents on the ground.
Worchestershire city councillor Richard Udall is among the officials in a flap anti-seagull actions are getting so “disproportionate” he thinks they are letting the UK’s plague of giant rats run rampant.
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He warned: “If we are not careful we’ll take our eye off the ball with the huge problems of other pests in the city and I’m thinking particularly of rats, which do cause more problems for a large number of people.
“They are endemic in the city and we have plenty of residential and commercial properties which are providing harbourage for rats.
“Let’s not forget the traditional enemy and it’s the rat.”
Mark Cox from Worcestershire Regulatory Services said sewer baiting – which involves placing bait at manhole covers to check for rats – is one easy answer to the rodent swarms.
Despite the rat warnings, Worcester City Council is splashing an extra £10,500 next year on gull defences.
It’s likely to be blown on removals of seagull nests and trying to stop the flying pests from taking control of buildings and the skies.
So far this year a massive 125 gull nests were removed by Worcester City Council workers.
They also spent a mass of money and time “gull-proofing” 16 buildings in the city,
The gull control work has focused on so-called “areas of harm” such as the city centre where residents and visitors are most vulnerable to attacks by birds intent on pecking heads and eyes – and stealing punters fish suppers.
Even though psycho gull attacks are on the rise, gull-loving officials have launched ‘hug a gull’ calls.
Councillor Adam Scott says he’s depressed over how the birds are being treated – describing the rampant pests as endangered.
He added: “I hope we’re not chasing them away just because of their existence, and that we’re only reacting to complaints.”
Worcester city council’s environment committee has been warned there are 1,188 breeding pairs of gulls in the city – 58 more than in 2022.
The biggest populations are around the Blackpole Trading Estate, Shire Business Park and the city centre.
Officials have decided homes now also need gull-proofing, with nest and egg removals being stepped up in vacant BT building in the city.
There are also measures being put in place in its high street to stop the birds perching there.
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