Seagulls turn aggressive as chicks hatch—here’s how to avoid attacks

Seagulls are becoming increasingly aggressive across Sweden as breeding season peaks, with parents fiercely defending their newly hatched chicks, reports Swedish public broadcaster SVT.

Didrik Vannhoenacker, a duty biologist at the Swedish Museum of Natural History, advises the public to avoid areas where gulls are nesting whenever possible. Keeping a safe distance is usually enough to prevent confrontations, he said.

If a chick is found outside its nest—such as on a path or road—it may be moved a short distance to safety, Vannhoenacker added. Repeated human disturbances near stranded chicks can trigger further aggression from adult gulls.

For those forced to pass through high-risk areas, an umbrella—regardless of weather—can serve as a shield. The biologist explained that the umbrella acts as a visual barrier, making humans appear less threatening to protective parents.

Attacks typically occur when gulls perceive a direct threat to their offspring, with dive-bombing the most common defensive tactic.