Herring gulls released before shooting in the Danish Baltic Sea region

In a Danish town on the Baltic Sea, seagulls have become a nuisance, targeting residents and tourists.

The administration in Sonderburg, near the border with Germany, therefore allows the animals to be shot. The herring gulls can still be controlled with firearms or traps until mid-April, the municipality announced. It is important that this is only allowed with a permit. Various media had previously reported about it.

The region has been struggling with seagulls for a long time. Especially in the city center of the coastal region, people complained about noise pollution, disruptions and unpleasant encounters. According to the information, the birds are increasingly invading built-up areas due to the dwindling food supply to look for food in garbage bins, steal food from plates or steal young and eggs of small birds.

Since February 1, seagulls have already been released for shooting. In addition, according to the information, it is allowed to destroy eggs and nests from April to the end of July, and to shoot young herring gulls from mid-April to the end of August. Herring gulls can live about 30 years.

According to the Danish broadcaster DR, seagulls have been shot in the city center of the nearby city of Aalborg for twenty years. The shooting had no noticeable effect. They always came back. In 2026, funding for the city hunter is expected to be removed from the municipal budget. (sda/dpa/lyn)