A Trick to Get Rid of Pesky Gulls

November 8, 2012

Question: There is a video floating around of a local captain offering advice on how to get rid of pesky gulls. He ties sardines (no hooks) to each end of some monofilament line and goes on to explain that one gull will grab the bait, and then all the others will follow.

Is that legal? Seems like birds could get tangled up and die. Introducing mono into the sea also seems to be dangerous to the creatures there. Is this practice acceptable? (Phil F.)

Answer: No, this practice is not legal. Intentionally putting monofilament line into the water is littering. It is also harassment of animals, which is prohibited by Title 14 section 251.1. This provision defines harassment as an “intentional act which disrupts the animal’s normal behavioral patterns, which includes but is not limited to breeding, feeding or sheltering.”  From what you describe, the whole point of this practice is to disrupt the gulls’ normal behavioral patterns.