Gull control in Herefordshire for the last 6 years (2017-2022).
Case reference FOI2023/01226
Published 28 July 2023
Request
I am submitting a freedom of information request regarding your gull control across your council area for the last 6 years (2017-2022). I define gull control as the following:
Removal of nests
Removal of eggs
Culling/removal of chicks
Culling/removal of adult birds
Also please state the above actions for each gull species you carry out control for, the gull species required are as below:
Herring Gulls
Lesser Black Backed Gulls
Greater Black Backed Gulls
Common Gulls
Black Headed Gulls
Using the licenses you obtain from Natural England you should be able to determine the number for each of the above listed actions for each species. Each license has to be completed with a returns ('returns' is a detailed list sent back to the licensing issuing authority of all actions carried out under license by the council) of the breakdown for all licensed actions taken for each species.
Please accept the following questions regarding this subject.
Does the local authority carry out gull control (if no please only answer questions 1 & 2)?
How many complaints does the local authority receive regarding gulls each year?
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
How many licenses does the local authority apply for each year?
Does the local authority deploy non lethal deterrents to deter gulls from nesting?
If the local authority carries out gull control please answer the following for each species, again all this information should be submitted in license returns that the local authority submits and therefore should be easily accessible:
For each above listed gull species how many nests have you removed over the last 6 years? Please state the total for each year.
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
For each above listed gull species how many eggs have you removed over the last 6 years? Please state the total for each year.
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
For each above listed gull species how many chicks have you culled/removed over the last 6 years? Please state the total for each year.
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
For each above listed gull species how many adult birds have you removed over the last 6 years? Please state the total for each year.
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Response
I am submitting a freedom of information request regarding your gull control across your council area for the last 6 years (2017-2022). I define gull control as the following:
Removal of nests
Removal of eggs
Culling/removal of chicks
Culling/removal of adult birds
Also please state the above actions for each gull species you carry out control for, the gull species required are as below:
Herring Gulls
Lesser Black Backed Gulls
Greater Black Backed Gulls
Common Gulls
Black Headed Gulls
Using the licenses you obtain from Natural England you should be able to determine the number for each of the above listed actions for each species. Each license has to be completed with a returns ('returns' is a detailed list sent back to the licensing issuing authority of all actions carried out under license by the council) of the breakdown for all licensed actions taken for each species.
Please accept the following questions regarding this subject.
Does the local authority carry out gull control (if no please only answer questions 1 & 2)?
Herefordshire Council have not carried out Gull control since 2020 when our contractor's general licence for control of Herring gull and Lesser black-backed gull populations was removed by DEFRA / Natural England.
How many complaints does the local authority receive regarding gulls each year?
2017 - 23
2018 - 17
2019 - 40
2020 - 36
2021 - 20
2022 - 22
How many licenses does the local authority apply for each year?
None.
Does the local authority deploy non lethal deterrents to deter gulls from nesting?
Gull proof commercial waste collection sacks.
If the local authority carries out gull control please answer the following for each species, again all this information should be submitted in license returns that the local authority submits and therefore should be easily accessible:
For each above listed gull species how many nests have you removed over the last 6 years? Please state the total for each year.
2017 - 265
2018 - 250
2019 - 156
2020 - 115
2021 - 0
2022 - 0
For each above listed gull species how many eggs have you removed over the last 6 years? Please state the total for each year.
2017 - 503
2018 - 414
2019 - 273
2020 - 266
2021 - 0
2022 - 0
For each above listed gull species how many chicks have you culled/removed over the last 6 years? Please state the total for each year.
2017 - 0
2018 - 0
2019 - 0
2020 - 0
2021 - 0
2022 - 0
For each above listed gull species how many adult birds have you removed over the last 6 years? Please state the total for each year.
2017 - 0
2018 - 0
2019 - 0
2020 - 0
2021 - 0
2022 - 0
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.