Cornwall’s gulls are an important part of our coastal wildlife and, like all wild birds, play a valuable role in the natural environment. However, Cornwall Wildlife Trust strongly encourages residents and visitors not to feed gulls, whether intentionally or by leaving food waste where it can be accessed. 

Gulls are protected wild birds, but providing them with regular sources of human food can alter their natural behaviour and increase their dependence on urban areas. 

Regular feeding can attract larger numbers of gulls to towns, beaches and residential areas, leading to increased competition for food, aggressive behaviour around people, litter problems and conflicts with local communities. Feeding can also create unnaturally high concentrations of birds, which may increase the risk of disease transmission and encourage further nesting in built-up areas.

We encourage everyone to help wildlife responsibly by:

• Not feeding gulls directly
• Disposing of food waste properly and securing refuse
• Avoiding leaving food unattended on beaches, seafronts and public spaces
• Supporting wildlife through habitat conservation instead

By allowing gulls to forage naturally and by managing waste responsibly, we can help maintain healthier populations of these iconic coastal birds while reducing unnecessary conflict between people and wildlife.