The rise of urban lifestyles among seagulls in the UK and Europe has turned these birds into adept food thieves, particularly in coastal towns like Falmouth, Cornwall. One memorable incident involved a seagull that snatched a packet of crisps from an unattended bag, illustrating the growing challenge of protecting outdoor meals from these clever birds.
In response to this behavior, researchers, including myself and my colleague Neeltje Boogert, have investigated innovative ways to deter these opportunistic feeders. Our recent study indicates that adding a pair of eyes to food packaging can significantly discourage seagulls from stealing food. This builds on our previous findings that herring gulls approach food more cautiously when they perceive human gaze.
Many animals, both wild and domesticated, are instinctively aware of eyes, which often signal the presence of a predator or indicate intent. Direct eye contact can suggest aggression, while averted gazes imply safety. Consequently, animals tend to react defensively when they spot eyes, a behavior rooted in survival instincts.
Interestingly, some species have developed markings, known as eyespots, which may confuse predators or redirect attacks to less vital areas. This concept has been a topic of scientific debate for over a century, with various hypotheses suggesting that these markings increase wariness among potential threats.
In a practical application of this theory, researchers in Botswana painted eyes on cattle to reduce predation from lions and leopards. Remarkably, cattle adorned with eyespots were not attacked at all during the study, highlighting the effectiveness of this strategy across different species.
Testing the Eye Concept with Gulls
In our experiment conducted in Cornwall, we placed pairs of eyes on takeaway boxes and offered herring gulls a choice between a box with eyes and one without. The results were promising; gulls were noticeably slower to approach the boxes with eyes and less likely to peck at them.
To further investigate, we tested gulls multiple times with boxes featuring eyes. Approximately half of the birds consistently avoided the boxes with eyes, indicating that the deterrent effect might persist for some gulls who remain unaware of the ruse.
Our next step involves collaborating with local food vendors to implement takeaway boxes with eye designs. While this approach may only deter a portion of gulls, combining it with other deterrents, such as noise, could further reduce food theft incidents.
Eye-like patterns have previously been utilized to protect crops from birds, safeguard fishing nets from seabirds, and even keep raptors away from airports. This demonstrates the versatility of eyespots as a method of conflict resolution between humans and wildlife.
The Human Connection
Interestingly, humans also exhibit a sensitivity to eye imagery. Research shows that images of eyes can reduce bicycle theft, promote honesty, and encourage charitable donations by creating a sense of being observed. This suggests a shared instinct across species to behave more cautiously when they feel they are being watched.
As we explore the reasons behind varying responses to eye imagery among different animals, it becomes clear that this simple yet effective technique offers a promising avenue for reducing human-wildlife conflict.
Laura Kelley, Associate Professor, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter