The city of Rome is facing a plague of seagulls. With their powerful beaks and long claws, the birds scare tourists and locals. A specially developed drone must now keep the animals away from terraces and balconies.
Last week alone, 30 cases of seagulls attacking dogs and children were reported in Rome. The birds often pounce on plates in restaurants or hotels and take snacks or pick through garbage bags to get leftovers.
The drone developed by Andrea Lunerti, one of the best-known experts in dealing with birds of prey, snakes, wild boars and deer, together with a pilot, should put an end to this. It emits sounds and light impulses that scare the seagulls.
The small device is very manoeuvrable and can also fly in tighter spaces. Afraid of the sound of the drone, the birds moved away and did not build nests there. They subsequently did not return because they found the place unsafe, it was said.
Ideal living conditions
“The drone has a rubber propeller that doesn’t harm anyone. We are still in the testing phase, but the results in the fight against seagulls are encouraging,” reports Lunerti. A big city is especially attractive to wildlife because of the large amount of food, says the expert. So they leave the forests to move to the outskirts of Rome, where they can rummage through the trash and find food. This applies to wild boars, foxes, but also to seagulls.
The mild climate, the lack of natural enemies and the waste that many tourists leave on the streets provide ideal living conditions for seagulls. In the spring, seagulls prefer to nest on roofs or terraces and raise their young there until they fledge.
Source: Krone
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