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Anti-social seagull: Shoplifting bird steals crisps
The Scottish Government has unveiled a pilot project to tackle the "menace" of urban seagulls.
Gull nests in Dumfries will be destroyed under plans to try to stop aggressive birds swooping and striking residents of the town.
If successful the project could be extended to places like Aberdeen which also have major seagull problems.
Environment Minister Mike Russell said the project would "swing into action" ahead of the next breeding season.
However, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said a change in human behaviour would address the problem better than destroying nests.
Dumfries has had long-running difficulties with its seagull population.
Mr Russell said it was time to get "tough on seagulls and tough on the causes of seagulls".
He said: "Seagulls are a menace to Scottish towns and cities.
"They thrive on litter and their aggressive behaviour towards other birds, pets and even people is increasingly problematic.
"Dumfries has a particular problem with gulls with regular reports of dive-bombing and litter strewn around the town after a seagull has raided a bin."
He said he had even read about a local paperboy who had had to abandon his deliveries due to constant attacks from the birds.
A new task force of local representatives and gull experts will meet soon to consider ways in which gulls can be deterred from nesting in the town.
Scottish Natural Heritage and Dumfries and Galloway Council will work on the scheme with the government.
Deterrents under consideration include wires and spikes in areas favoured by seagulls.
Mr Russell said: "By preventing gulls from nesting and destroying nests when discovered we can actively discourage them from breeding in Dumfries, and hopefully force them to look elsewhere.
"I expect the task force to start making plans now, ready to swing into action next spring to coincide with the next breeding season.
"If successful, lessons learned will be shared with other local authorities so they can see what has worked in Dumfries with a view to implementing an appropriate response to problems in their area."
Dumfries Provost Jack Groom, a long-time campaigner on the issue, said the time had come to take action.
'Serious injury'
"There is no doubt the Dumfries population of gulls is getting bolder," he said.
"They are now stealing food from people's hands and harassing locals and visitors.
"It's only a matter of time before a gull collides with someone and there is a serious injury."
A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said there had been a massive proliferation in fast food outlets and "that leads to discarded food".
He added: "Birds aren't stupid - they will exploit the situation.
"We have created the ideal place for them and they have come into towns."
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