UK’s psycho seagull hotspots – like space you are more than likely to be dive-bombed
More than six out of ten holiday makers have had their chips stolen by psycho seagulls, a poll found.
As millions head for the coast for the Bank Holiday weekend researchers found 65% of Brits have had a run in with a stroppy bird when it tried to get their takeaway at the seaside.
Brighton is the attack capital with two out of ten – 20% – of those attacked saying they were dive bombed in the south coast resort – the highest attack rate in the UK.
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Blackpool is the second worst affected area with 19% of attacks happening on its beaches followed by Scarborough on 18%.
Overall four out of ten people – 42% – also said seagulls have gone for their ice cream and 23% said a bird had attacked their dog while on holiday.
A further 11% said a bird had made off with a personal item like a child’s toy and 14% said they had abandoned a beach picnic because of the seagull menace.
(Image: SWNS)
Shockingly 12% of people said they had suffered minor peck injuries such as a cut ear and 34% said they had been terrified when a gull tugged at their hair.
WhichBingo asked 2,000 UK adults if they had been attacked by seagulls on holiday in the UK and where it happened.
Spokesman Charlie Shakespeare said: “Our research shows over half of all UK holiday makers have had a run in with aggressive seagulls.
“Whether they are stealing chips, dive-bombing loved pets or grabbing anything they can get their beaks on they have become a real seaside menace. Unfortunately nothing discourages them and they seem to be getting bolder than ever.”
Cleethorpes on the Lincolnshire coast is the fourth worst affected place with 17% of those attacked saying they were dive bombed there.
Padstow in Cornwall, Skegness in Lincolnshire and Wembury, Devon, came joint fifth on 16% with Whitby on the North Yorkshire coast sixth on 15%.
Newquay in Cornwall and Filey in North Yorkshire came joint seventh on 14% with Weston-super-Mare on the north Somerset coast and Portobello Beach in Edinburgh joint eighth accounting for 13% of attacks.
Aberystwyth on the Welsh coast and St Ives on the Cornish coast came joint ninth on 12% with Tenby, Wales, and Paignton, Devon, tenth on 10% with Cromer on the Norfolk coast eleventh on 8% of attacks.
Where people were when they were dive-bombed by a seagull
- Brighton – 20%
- Blackpool – 19%
- Scarborough – 18%
- Cleethorpes – 17%
- Padstow – 16%
- Skegness – 16%
- Wembury – 16%
- Whitby – 15%
- Newquay – 14%
- Filey – 14%
- Weston-super-Mare – 13%
- Portobello Beach, Edinburgh – 13%
- Aberystwyth – 12%
- St Ives – 12%
- Tenby – 11%
- Paignton – 10%
- Cromer – 8%
