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Amanda Foster — Reviewed writer, former magazine editor

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How to Handle Deal with Aggressive Seagulls Step by Step

When deal with aggressive seagulls leaves you confused, worried, or unsure what it means, a clear step-by-step approach can help you sort the signal from the stress. This guide explains how to understand the situation, reflect on what matters, choose a practical next step, and know when to ask for trusted support.

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Part 1

Handling Scavenging Gulls

Dispose of garbage properly in lidded bins.

This discourages seagulls from hanging around to scavenge out of trash bins. [1] X Expert Source Elmer Bensinger Pest Control Specialist Expert Interview Always make sure the lids are on securely and don’t overfill a bin. [2] X Research source

This discourages seagulls from hanging around to scavenge out of trash bins.
[1] X Expert Source Elmer Bensinger Pest Control Specialist Expert Interview Always make sure the lids are on securely and don’t overfill a bin.
[2] X Research source
This discourages seagulls from hanging around to scavenge out of trash bins.
[1] X Expert Source Elmer Bensinger Pest Control Specialist Expert Interview Always make sure the lids are on securely and don’t overfill a bin.

Scan the area for gulls before you sit down to eat outside.

Look around for gulls perched on nearby posts, walls, and buildings. Take note of any gulls that appear to be watching the area and keep an eye on them or go somewhere else to eat. [3] X Research source

Look around for gulls perched on nearby posts, walls, and buildings.
Take note of any gulls that appear to be watching the area and keep an eye on them or go somewhere else to eat.
[3] X Research source
Look around for gulls perched on nearby posts, walls, and buildings.
Take note of any gulls that appear to be watching the area and keep an eye on them or go somewhere else to eat.

Sit against a wall or another surface if you’re eating outside.

This lets you keep an eye on any gulls in the area in case they start approaching you in search of food. Avoid turning your back on gulls because you can’t see if they are approaching you. [4] X Research source

This lets you keep an eye on any gulls in the area in case they start approaching you in search of food.
Avoid turning your back on gulls because you can’t see if they are approaching you.
[4] X Research source
This lets you keep an eye on any gulls in the area in case they start approaching you in search of food.
Avoid turning your back on gulls because you can’t see if they are approaching you.

Make eye contact with a gull if it walks towards you while you’re eating.

Stare hard at any gull that starts coming closer to you on foot. Knowing that you’re watching them sometimes discourages gulls from testing their luck to try and steal your food. [5] X Research source

Stare hard at any gull that starts coming closer to you on foot.
Knowing that you’re watching them sometimes discourages gulls from testing their luck to try and steal your food.
[5] X Research source
Stare hard at any gull that starts coming closer to you on foot.
Knowing that you’re watching them sometimes discourages gulls from testing their luck to try and steal your food.

Keep any food you’re carrying hidden and covered when you’re walking by gulls.

Carry food in closed containers inside a bag if possible and hold it close to your body, so that gulls are less likely to spot it and dive for it. Only open your food containers when you’re going to eat. [6] X Research source

Carry food in closed containers inside a bag if possible and hold it close to your body, so that gulls are less likely to spot it and dive for it.
Only open your food containers when you’re going to eat.
[6] X Research source
Carry food in closed containers inside a bag if possible and hold it close to your body, so that gulls are less likely to spot it and dive for it.
Only open your food containers when you’re going to eat.

Dispose of food waste promptly and properly.

Throw away food scraps and disposable food containers in the proper disposal bins as soon as you finish eating. [7] X Expert Source Elmer Bensinger Pest Control Specialist Expert Interview Don’t litter or feed leftovers to seagulls. [8] X Research source

Throw away food scraps and disposable food containers in the proper disposal bins as soon as you finish eating.
[7] X Expert Source Elmer Bensinger Pest Control Specialist Expert Interview Don’t litter or feed leftovers to seagulls.
[8] X Research source
Throw away food scraps and disposable food containers in the proper disposal bins as soon as you finish eating.
[7] X Expert Source Elmer Bensinger Pest Control Specialist Expert Interview Don’t litter or feed leftovers to seagulls.

Part 2

Protecting Against Nesting Gulls

Listen for a low-pitched, squawking sound as a warning of an attack.

Gulls defending their nests and chicks make a warning sound to tell you to get away before they attack. Be aware of your surroundings when you’re walking through areas with gulls and listen for this sound. [9] X Research source

Gulls defending their nests and chicks make a warning sound to tell you to get away before they attack.
Be aware of your surroundings when you’re walking through areas with gulls and listen for this sound.
[9] X Research source
Gulls defending their nests and chicks make a warning sound to tell you to get away before they attack.
Be aware of your surroundings when you’re walking through areas with gulls and listen for this sound.

Move away if you hear a warning squawk or if a gull starts swooping at you.

Backtrack the way you came until you don’t hear the sound anymore or if the gull stops swooping. Find a different route that lets you avoid the nesting gulls. [10] X Research source

Backtrack the way you came until you don’t hear the sound anymore or if the gull stops swooping.
Find a different route that lets you avoid the nesting gulls.
[10] X Research source
Backtrack the way you came until you don’t hear the sound anymore or if the gull stops swooping.
Find a different route that lets you avoid the nesting gulls.

Lift up your arms to protect your head if a seagull begins swooping at you.

Keep your arms above your head, but don’t wave them around. Move away from the area until the gull stops attacking you. [11] X Research source

Keep your arms above your head, but don’t wave them around.
Move away from the area until the gull stops attacking you.
[11] X Research source
Keep your arms above your head, but don’t wave them around.
Move away from the area until the gull stops attacking you.

Wear a hat and carry an open umbrella if you can’t avoid aggressive gulls.

In some cases, like if nesting gulls lives close to your front door, it might be impossible to avoid a gull that’s protective of its young. Put on a hat to protect your head and walk with an open umbrella, then use the umbrella as a shield if a gull starts getting aggressive with you. [12] X Research source

In some cases, like if nesting gulls lives close to your front door, it might be impossible to avoid a gull that’s protective of its young.
Put on a hat to protect your head and walk with an open umbrella, then use the umbrella as a shield if a gull starts getting aggressive with you.
[12] X Research source
In some cases, like if nesting gulls lives close to your front door, it might be impossible to avoid a gull that’s protective of its young.
Put on a hat to protect your head and walk with an open umbrella, then use the umbrella as a shield if a gull starts getting aggressive with you.

Part 3

Keeping Gulls off Your Property

Use shiny materials to deter gulls.

Hang up things like reflective tape or streamers in areas where you want to discourage gulls from hanging out. [13] X Expert Source Elmer Bensinger Pest Control Specialist Expert Interview The reflective surfaces confuse them and they might decide to go somewhere else. [14] X Trustworthy Source National Geographic Website of the National Geographic Society Go to source

Hang up things like reflective tape or streamers in areas where you want to discourage gulls from hanging out.
[13] X Expert Source Elmer Bensinger Pest Control Specialist Expert Interview The reflective surfaces confuse them and they might decide to go somewhere else.
[14] X Trustworthy Source National Geographic Website of the National Geographic Society Go to source
Hang up things like reflective tape or streamers in areas where you want to discourage gulls from hanging out.
[13] X Expert Source Elmer Bensinger Pest Control Specialist Expert Interview The reflective surfaces confuse them and they might decide to go somewhere else.

Set up decoys of gull predators like owls and hawks on your property.

Tie balloons with owl faces or hang up owl masks around your property for example. Or, buy lawn ornaments like wooden owls or hawks and stick them in your lawn. [15] X Research source

Tie balloons with owl faces or hang up owl masks around your property for example.
Or, buy lawn ornaments like wooden owls or hawks and stick them in your lawn.
[15] X Research source
Tie balloons with owl faces or hang up owl masks around your property for example.
Or, buy lawn ornaments like wooden owls or hawks and stick them in your lawn.

Install wires, spikes, and nets to keep gulls from perching on high points.

Get plastic or metal spikes installed on chimneys and high points of your roof. Surround other areas you don’t wan’t gulls to hang out in with wires and nets to keep them from perching and nesting there. [16] X Research source

Get plastic or metal spikes installed on chimneys and high points of your roof.
Surround other areas you don’t wan’t gulls to hang out in with wires and nets to keep them from perching and nesting there.
[16] X Research source
Get plastic or metal spikes installed on chimneys and high points of your roof.
Surround other areas you don’t wan’t gulls to hang out in with wires and nets to keep them from perching and nesting there.

Hire a falconer to deploy a hawk or a falcon to scare off crowds of seagulls.

Some falconers offer this service to reduce problematic crowds of gulls in areas that are overrun. Look up falconers in your area and contact them to find out if this is an option. [17] X Trustworthy Source National Geographic Website of the National Geographic Society Go to source

Some falconers offer this service to reduce problematic crowds of gulls in areas that are overrun.
Look up falconers in your area and contact them to find out if this is an option.
[17] X Trustworthy Source National Geographic Website of the National Geographic Society Go to source
Some falconers offer this service to reduce problematic crowds of gulls in areas that are overrun.
Look up falconers in your area and contact them to find out if this is an option.

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