Are Seagulls Protected in the US?

Seagulls are widespread throughout the United States, not only along the coasts, but you may also hear their loud calls farther inland, in parking lots, near residential areas and in landfills.

Since they are so common, do seagulls need any official protection? Read on as we learn about the status and habitat of seagulls, and ask the following question: Are seagulls protected in the United States?

Seagulls are protected throughout the United States Migratory Bird Treaty Act 1918. This protection is due to the potential threat to their coastal nesting habitat, which could affect their population numbers if their breeding grounds are destroyed.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act is common conservation legislation between the United States, Canada, Mexico, Russia and Japan that provides protection for birds with a range extending into these countries against any form of damage or injury to birds, their nests or their Egg.

In the United States, seagulls are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918

Coastal breeding habitats are threatened by development, erosion and sea level rise. This danger is considered to have a potentially detrimental effect on the future of gull populations if their nesting sites are lost or destroyed.

Protected status helps support population numbers, and as a result, many gull species are witnessing population booms, with gulls moving inland in search of food and suitable nesting sites. This shift in location has brought them into closer contact with city life, with nests built on the roofs of residential buildings and gulls carrying food scraps from landfills and parking lots.

This inland presence has led some to consider gull populations a nuisance and find ways to prevent them from visiting or nesting on their properties. But with their protection in place, there’s no quick fix to keep away any gulls that make themselves comfortable outside their typical natural habitat.

Read on to learn more about gulls and the protections they have in the United States that allow them to spread further inland, away from the sea.

Close up of a European Herring Gull in flight

Why are seagulls protected?

Gulls are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act as a means of protecting their populations from the threat of decline. The legislation aims to ensure the future continuation and survival of the species as their natural breeding habitat is threatened.

Cliffs and rocky ledges that form gulls’ natural nesting grounds may be at risk of disappearing due to development and landscape changes such as erosion, extreme weather conditions or rising sea levels.

What threat are seagulls?

Seagulls face a range of threats, both natural and man-made. These include pollution (e.g. ocean plastic, oil, pills), habitat loss from urban development and weather-related events, overfishing and subsequent lack of available food, and even the deliberate act of eradicating seagulls from specific areas.

Due to their large size, they can be loud and aggressive when they feel threatened, so adult gulls are at relatively low risk of predator attack, but their hatchlings and eggs are usually the offspring of birds of prey, raccoons, mink, cats and foxes Target.

Unfortunately, seagulls face many natural and man-made threats

Are seagulls an endangered bird?

There are more than 50 different species of gulls, many of which are widespread, including herring gulls, black-headed gulls and California gulls, and are listed as a species of least concern by the IUCN.

However, certain species, including the Alduin’s, Relic’s, Lava and Sanders’ Gulls, are classified as Vulnerable and have witnessed significant population declines or threats to the future of the species.

Other gull species, including the ivory, black-billed and white-eyed gulls, are designated as Near Threatened.

Alduin’s Gull Listed as Vulnerable

Are Seagull Populations in the U.S. Declining?

There are millions of gulls in the world, divided into 54 species, at least 28 of which are observed in North America. Certain species, including California gulls, have been reported to experience population surges in some areas.

Worryingly, however, populations of many of the most common gull species in the United States—such as herring gulls and great stern gulls—have seen dramatic declines in recent years, and in some cases, since the 1980s above 50.

One explanation for the decline is reduced access to high-quality fish due to overfishing and competition for food in coastal waters.

Great black-backed gull populations have declined dramatically since the 1980s

How do you legally get rid of seagulls?

A variety of gull deterrents exist that are effective in preventing birds from nesting or landing in specific areas. These include pegs and netting marketed as “humane seagull deterrents” to prevent seagulls from nesting or landing on specific structures.

Seagulls are known to view owls and hawks as predators, and mimic models of these birds can be installed on properties in an attempt to trick seagulls into thinking they are threatened with attack.

Spikes are a humane way to deter gulls from landing, roosting or nesting in certain places

Can seagulls be legally hunted?

Seagulls may be considered a nuisance for a variety of reasons, and people may try to keep them off their property, or discourage them from nesting or visiting on commercial or residential buildings.

Besides being loud and aggressive scavengers, seagulls are also notoriously messy, and their droppings risk spreading disease to humans. They make no difference in their food choices and may carry waste from landfills that can pose a health hazard if disposed of in human-occupied areas.

While it is illegal for the general public to kill seagulls, certain exceptions exist, meaning that in rare and specific circumstances, federal gull extermination permits can be granted.

One example is seagulls that have been shown to be “a threat to public health and safety,” such as an arrangement with the USDA that allowed for the eradication of seagulls at Puget Sound ferry terminals for years.

Close up of a Kelp Gull perched on a rock

What happens when you kill a seagull?

Since seagulls are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, killing a seagull is considered a government offense and will be punished in court. If prosecuted and found guilty, such offenses carry a fine of up to $15,000 or up to 6 months in prison.

In which states are seagulls protected?

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 applies to all U.S. states and provides protections for the birds themselves, their eggs and their nesting grounds.

One state where gulls may be especially revered is Utah, which declared the California gull its official state bird in 1955.

It’s a tribute to the species’ role played more than 100 years ago, when a plague of Rocky Mountain crickets decimated the state’s crops until heroic, hungry seagulls swooped in and fed on the destructive insect, saving the day.

Utah’s State Bird, the California Gull