After a challenging year for gull control in England, BPCA is asking the pest management community to help us make the process for getting a licence better.
BPCA has the opportunity to positively influence Natural England regarding what happens with gull licensing in 2021.
To do this, we need the members to download and fill in our Scenarios for gull control survey spreadsheet.
Download now
The spreadsheet asks you to list all scenarios where you might need to lethally control gulls or interfere with their eggs for the sake of human health and safety.
Everyone who conducts gull work is encouraged to fill in the spreadsheet to the best of their ability and return it to hello@bpca.org.uk before 26 September 2020.
Constructive feedback for a better 2021
2020 has been disappointing and costly for many pest professionals who rely on gull work.
However, if we approach NE saying “we just need to be awarded the licences we apply for” we’re unlikely to make any meaningful changes or develop a relationship in the future.
Remember, NE’s role is to protect wildlife and comply with the law.
Limitations of change
Our role will be to highlight situations where gulls have the serious potential to cause harm to public health.
NE is clear that gulls being a nuisance and stealing food is not a sufficient reason to take lethal control.
The other thing to consider is that any gull licence that is applied for by you and issued by NE could end up in a court.
We need to be in a position where you can defend your application and NE need to be able to defend their issuing of that licence.
That's the stark reality we are now facing.
Ready to help?
If you carry out gull control work in the UK, then please fill out of the spreadsheet survey in as much detail as possible.
Download
Return your completed spreadsheets to hello@bpca.org.uk by 26 Septemeber 2020.
If you need help getting your thoughts down on the spreadsheet contact hello@bpca.org.uk for support.
NOTE: Your responses will be shared anonymously with Natural England and potentially other wildlife agencies to help support change in licences for bird control.
Source: Online