Just as the Florida Gators vs.the Florida State Seminoles is one of the biggest rivalries in all of college sports, boaters and seagulls have been at odds for centuries. As a boat owner, you’re probably very familiar with this process.
- Seagull lands on your boat
- Seagull does what seagulls do
- You curse the seagulls
- You spend your Saturday scrubbing or washing your boat, canopy, or cover
More seriously, seagulls can and do carry bacteria like Campylobacter, Salmonella, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia. By keeping seagulls away from your vessel, you reduce the demands of cleaning and the possibility of waste on your boat, which will help keep you and your passengers from getting ill.
Seagulls are and likely always will be a part of marine life, but there are things you can do to deter seagulls from landing on your boat. With a few proactive measures, you can keep your boat cleaner and save yourself some significant work along the way.
Also read: Identifying Common Wildlife in Florida Waterways
Seagull Sweep
One affordable, effective way to keep seagulls off your boat is with a Seagull Sweep. This is effective through moving rods that prevent seagulls from landing for more than a few seconds, and likely not at all. These spin automatically with the wind and are proven to be effective.
Bird Spider Repellant
Similarly, a Bird Spider Repellent device eliminates the flat space for a seagull to land by cover the space with “legs” or small metal roads that sprawl over the surface. These are great for smaller areas or with a few next to each other.
Reflective Tape
Reflective tape has shown to be effective against seagulls landing. There are products made specifically for this purpose, but any reflective tape may be worth a try.
Other animals or fake animals
Sheepdogs, hawks, and owls are all predators for seagulls, and depending on your situation, a real dog or hawk can be extremely effective. Of course, finding a falconer or dog for this situation can be difficult, so you can always get a fake owl or other predatory bird to help scare away seagulls.
