Fire crews’ rescue of a baby seagull from a telegraph pole in a seaside town has left neighbours divided over the use of taxpayers’ money.
Some passers-by in Rhyl, North Wales, applauded when they saw the stranded bird safely taken down from the 30ft pole in a plastic bucket.
But others were less than impressed, with a man from nearby Prestatyn saying: ‘Complete waste of taxpayers’ money. Should have just shot the vermin.’
The young gull was seen struggling on telegraph lines last Wednesday, yelping in distress.
A passer-by dialled 999 and a fire crew responded at around 11.30am, raising a ladder to scale the pole and rescue the bird.
Firefighters on Marsh Road, Rhyl, Denbighshire during the rescue of the baby seagull on July 10
The rescue of the seafulls have sparked a fierce debate in the town with some claiming it was a waste of money (Gull on Llandudno Pier, North Wales)
In a town with some of the highest child and food poverty rates in Wales, some residents questioned whether the money it took to rescue the bird could have been better spent.
Many of the residents also complained that the birds were a nuisance in the town and there have even been past schemes to reduce gull numbers.
Responding to a picture of the rescue online, one person said: ‘They’re vermin, all they do is defecate everywhere.’
Another person said: ‘Probably do good to let a few go since there’s so many of them.
‘Perhaps it’d be an idea to relocate them somewhere they won’t bother people.’
But some people supported the fire crews’ efforts and came to the young gull’s defence.
One person said: ‘People really are horrible creatures.
‘Where’s your compassion? Listen to yourselves.’
Another person said: ‘Some of you need to give your head a wobble.
‘They hardly left people burning in a building to save the seagull.’
Gull attacks peak during the breeding season when adults become protective of their young (Stock image of a seagull with a stolen ice cream cone)
A spokeswoman for North Wales Fire Service said: ‘Our response to such incidents is under constant review, and as always the priority is the safety and wellbeing of our communities.’
Councillors and businesses have tried to tackle problem gulls in Rhyl for several years but the birds are a protected species and cannot be culled.
A £20,000 scheme meant to target gull eggs was abandoned after opposition from animal rights campaigners.
In April this year shopper Frank Jordan, 71, was attacked in Rhyl by a dive-bombing seagull outside a Sainsbury’s store in the town and the bird stole his block of cheese.
Gull attacks peak during the breeding season when adults become protective of their young.
Rhyl, Prestatyn or other coastal towns in North Wales don’t top the UK rankings for gull attacks on people.
Brighton leads the way, with Aberystwyth topping the Welsh list.