UK Zoo Seeks To Recruit More Human “Seagull Deterrents”

Having grown up on the coast, I know just how pesky seagulls can be. While beautiful to look at as they soar over the ocean, trying to enjoy a Happy Meal or beach day picnic can be tricky with them around.

While many seagulls will mind their own business, some bolder birds will swoop down and try to steal bites of food! It can be a hard issue to handle, but it seems the Blackpool Zoo in Blackpool, Lancashire, England has come up with a pretty great solution.

Photo: Pexels/Engin Akyurt

The zoo announced a job opening for a human “Seagull Deterrent” who can keep the seagulls at bay.

In the job listing, the zoo explains that as a seaside resort, it’s a frequent hotspot for seagulls. They said: “However, the seagulls are proving to be a bit of a nuisance when it comes to trying to steal food from our visitors and our animal enclosures!”

Photo: Twitter/@HeartNWNews

They went on to say, “We need to do what we can to keep the seagulls away from our main visitor dining areas, which is why we are looking for a team of people to join our Visitor Services team as ‘Seagull Deterrents.'”

So, who would make a good “Seagull Deterrent,” you might be wondering? According to the job listing, they’re looking for someone who is “friendly, energetic, flexible, outgoing,” and visitor focused. In addition, you must be comfortable wearing a bird costume.

Photo: Twitter/@HeartNWNews

In a video shard on Twitter, zoo staff revealed to North West News that they’ve received over 150 applications for the “Seagull Deterrent” job. Some of the applications even poured in from different countries!

Jess Monks, Chief Seagull Scarier, demonstrated the job, which involves being quick on her feet and flapping her arms a lot. She said in the video that being outgoing and comfortable in costume is key to being a good fit for the job because people will often talk to her or ask for photos and she does her best to stay in character.

Those interested in the role can email their CV to recruitment@blackpoolzoo.org.uk or check out the full job listing here.

Protect the Planet

Help preserve vital habitat at The Rainforest Site for free!

Whizzco