Shouting Works Better Than Talking to Scare Off Seagulls

New Research Reveals Effective Seagull Deterrent Method

If you've ever had your chips or fish stolen by a seagull at the beach, you now have scientific evidence for what works best to protect your food. Researchers from the University of Exeter have discovered that shouting at seagulls is significantly more effective than speaking to them when they try to steal your meal.

Groundbreaking Study in Cornwall

The study, published in the prestigious journal Biology Letters, tested 61 European herring gulls across nine seaside towns in Cornwall, England. Researchers used five male volunteers who recorded the same phrase: "No! Stay away! That's my food!" in both shouting and speaking voices. The recordings were played through speakers placed near bags of chips to test the birds' reactions.

"As far as we know, this is the first study to test whether wild animals can perceive acoustic differences in men's voices speaking the same sentence," the authors wrote in their published paper.

Significant Differences in Response

The results were striking. When exposed to shouting, nearly half of the seagulls (10 out of 21 tested) flew away within a minute. In contrast, only three gulls flew away when hearing the same words spoken calmly. As a control, researchers also played robin songs, which caused only three gulls to fly away, similar to the speaking voice response.

Lead researcher Dr. Neeltje Boogert explained the findings to Associated Press: "Talking can make seagulls stop what they're doing, but shouting works better to make them fly away."

Why Male Voices Were Used

The researchers chose to use male voices specifically because men are statistically more likely to harm wildlife than women. This decision provides important baseline data for understanding how seagulls perceive human threats. The study authors noted that future research could explore whether seagulls respond differently to female voices and whether they can detect gender differences in human speech.

Practical Implications for Coastal Visitors

This research has immediate practical applications for anyone visiting coastal areas where seagulls are common. The European herring gull, which is the species tested in this study, is also common throughout the Netherlands and other European coastal regions. These birds are protected species in many countries, including the Netherlands, where the Animal Protection Society advises against feeding them and recommends proper waste disposal.

The study demonstrates that non-aggressive methods can effectively deter seagulls without causing harm to these protected birds. This is particularly important given that seagulls face conservation concerns in many regions.

Broader Implications for Human-Wildlife Interactions

This research contributes to our understanding of how urban wildlife adapts to human presence. The fact that seagulls can distinguish between different vocal qualities in human speech suggests they've developed sophisticated auditory processing abilities in response to living alongside humans.

The study was conducted in February and March 2025 across multiple locations in Cornwall, ensuring robust and representative results. The researchers carefully controlled for background noise and volume levels, making the findings particularly reliable.

As Dr. Boogert emphasized, "Remember that seagulls, like you, have a right to a place to live." This research provides peaceful, effective methods for coexisting with these intelligent birds while protecting your lunch.