What Does a Seagull Look Like?
Gulls are members of a large, widespread family of seabirds. The most common gull species in Wisconsin are the herring gull and ring-billed gull. Gulls typically have white or grey wings with black tips. They have long wings and beaks that appear slightly hooked. Depending on the species, gulls range in size from 6 ounces to 4 pounds.
What Problems Do Seagulls Cause?
Gulls are a significant problem for businesses and homeowners in downtown Milwaukee near the lakefront. They build nests on rooftops, awnings, and ledges, leaving behind nesting materials and droppings that can carry harmful bacteria and parasites. Milwaukee’s urban environment and close proximity to Lake Michigan make it easy for gulls to thrive. Landfill sites, street litter near bars and restaurants, and household garbage provide them with abundant and easily accessible food sources. Gulls are also involved in numerous collisions with airplanes each year around the Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.
Professional Seagull Control in Milwaukee, WI
Gulls are protected in Wisconsin, and only properly permitted professionals can control them. Our certified bird specialists at Advanced Wildlife and Pest Control offer seagull control and management solutions in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Our bird control services provide customized solutions to address seagull problems through removal, exclusion, and deterrents. Bird spikes, netting, and electrical or scent deterrents are the most commonly used effective solutions.
Seagull FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What do seagulls eat?
Seagulls primarily feed on fish, crustaceans, worms, and insects. These loud, competitive scavengers spend much of their time near food sources, looking to snatch food scraps off the ground.
Where do seagulls live?
Gulls usually nest in colonies. They construct their nests using various materials, including twigs, sticks, grasses, feathers, plastics, and other debris. In urban areas, gulls will nest on flat rooftops, in or around landfills, and in parking lots near large bodies of water.
When do seagulls mate?
Gulls mate in the spring from March to May. They produce one brood yearly with two to four eggs in each clutch. Both parents incubate the eggs for about four weeks. Chicks fledge after about six weeks. The average lifespan of a gull is around 15 to 20 years. Its predators include hawks, eagles, falcons, raccoons, foxes, and weasels.