Aggressive animals - Where are my letters? Why the British Post Office despairs of seagull attacks
In the small British town of Liskeard, the residents recently received a letter from the national postal service, Royal Mail. In it, the post apologized for delays in mail delivery. Nothing spectacular so far. What is far more intriguing: the cause of the delays. Aggressive seagulls have been hindering the delivery staff with their attacks, as reported in a distributed letter in South England. The birds were protecting their offspring and made it nearly impossible for the postal workers to deliver the mail.
The British Post responded constructively to the residents, offering them two solutions: either they would wait until the birds' aggression subsided, the timing of which was uncertain. Or they could provide a new delivery address.
According to the letter, the purpose of the letter was to first inform the residents about the issues at hand but also to assure them that deliveries would continue every day. "As Royal Mail is committed to providing a consistent daily delivery service, the safety of our staff is of the highest priority."
Seagull Attack: Postal Workers Run for Their Lives
The "Daily Mail" spoke with a resident who reported that these aggressive seagulls seemed to be a small group of birds. "They're always the same ones. I'm not bothered by them, but the postal workers and city council employees are running for their lives."
Another resident reportedly stated that the seagulls nested on her neighbor's roof for whole six weeks every year. She described the situation as "somehow life-threatening (...), going outside." Her oldest son was reportedly attacked every morning on his way to school. "It's a daily problem I see, with people and things being attacked."
Such Seagull Attacks are also a Problem in Germany
Aggressive seagulls have been making headlines in Germany as well. The city of Kiel, for example, reported an "increasing aggressiveness in seagulls" two years ago and tried to address the situation through feeding bans, fines, and a poster campaign. In Warnemünde, rude seagulls made tourists unhappy this year by snatching their fish sandwiches from their hands. Whether the mail is delivered punctually in that area is not reported.
The seagull attacks in Liskeard have extended beyond postal workers, affecting city council employees as well. Despite the residents' indifference, these seagulls have made South of England a challenging region for daily outdoor activities. Every year, the seagulls nest on a neighbor's roof in Liskeard for six weeks, making life potentially dangerous for the residents and their children, such as the case of the oldest son who gets attacked every morning on his way to school.
