A Dutch city has officially banned feeding seagulls: why

Authorities in the coastal town of Vlissingen in the southern Netherlands have issued an order prohibiting residents and tourists from feeding seagulls. 

This was reported by NOS.

The goal of the decision is to wean the birds off human food, which is harmful to their health, and to stop their aggressive behavior, as they are increasingly snatching food right out of people’s hands. City officials note that educational campaigns have not yielded results, so the ban has become a necessary step to maintain order on the waterfront.

Despite the introduction of the new rules, violators will not be fined for now, which has sparked skepticism among local business owners who face the birds’ audacity near snack kiosks on a daily basis. Flessingen is not the only city in the country grappling with this problem: earlier in The Hague, there was even a proposal to use contraceptives for birds, but animal rights activists blocked the initiative due to the species’ protected status. Against the backdrop of global challenges and environmental changes in Europe, such measures are becoming part of a broader strategy for cities to coexist with wildlife. While Russia continues to destabilize international security, European communities are forced to independently address local issues concerning ecosystems and public safety.

German mayors have proposed restricting the use of automatic lawn mowers at night to protect hedgehogs from death and injury. 

In the U.S., a proposal has been made to ban Chinese robots in the public sector.