Person allegedly tried to run over seagulls "on purpose"

Wednesday 14 June 2023

The GSPCA is trying to track down the driver of a white car who has been accused of trying to run over a pair of gulls on purpose.

The charity was contacted on Saturday afternoon.

Manager Steve Byrne said "we received a report that someone had allegedly tried to run over gulls at the Charotterie".

He said there was evidence this had been done on purpose but they don't know who was responsible.

“On Saturday 11 June around midday we were informed a white car possibly a Fiat was driving up and down and hit possibly two gulls allegedly on purpose. We attended and there was evidence of whole pieces of bread.”

Pictured: The GSPCA is trying to find out what happened in the Charroterie on Saturday.

Mr Byrne said the charity has informed the authorities. Express has asked Guernsey Police if they are also investigating.

In the meantime, anyone with information should contact the charity by calling 257261, or emailing admin@gspca.org.gg.

Mr Byrne added that anyone else with welfare concerns should also contact the charity as the callers on Saturday did. “We are always here for any welfare concern and if you ever have a worry then please do get in touch,” he said.

Gulls and the law

Gulls are protected by law in Guernsey with the Animal Welfare Ordinance, 2012 covering wild birds too.

There are also informal measures to protect the breeding grounds of wild birds including gulls such as the voluntary ban on walking dogs near the nesting grounds at L'eree and the outright ban on any dogs being taken to Lihou.

Elsewhere, all species of gull are protected under the UK's Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. This makes it illegal to intentionally or, in Scotland and Northern Ireland, recklessly injure or kill any gull or damage or destroy an active nest or its contents.

All gulls are also protected under the Wildlife (Jersey) Law 2021, making it an offence to cause harm or disturbance to the birds, including their young and eggs.