Herring and lesser black-backed gulls increasingly nest in urban areas, creating welfare challenges for birds and conflict with residents across European and North American cities.
Urban gulls occupy a challenging welfare position: abundant food enables population growth, but roof environments expose chicks to hazards absent in coastal cliff habitats. Human responses to gull presence frequently involve lethal control, which evidence shows fails to produce lasting reductions. Egg oiling and replacement programs, which prevent hatching without physical harm to adults, offer a more humane and effective management tool. Public education about gull biology reduces unnecessary disturbance during the breeding season.