UK Zoo Seeks To Recruit More Human "Seagull Deterrents"

June 4, 2024 Malorie Thompson

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.

https://twitter.com/HeartNWNews/status/1650867265137418240

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

Malorie Thompson

Malorie works as a writer and editor in Northern California. She's passionate about food, conscious living, animal welfare, and conservation. She's worked with a variety of publications in different sectors but is happiest covering topics close to her heart. When not at her laptop, Malorie can be found enjoying picnics on the beach, hiking in the redwoods, and spending time with her rescue pup, Jax.

Country/region

Help Animals That Need Medical Care

Unique Quality Products

From exclusive pet-loving designs to hand-crafted artisan goods, our products are hand-picked for their superior quality and unique features.

Exceptional Value

We believe that shopping for good should be affordable and accessible to everyone, which is why we offer fair pricing and daily deals.

Satisfaction Guaranteed

With 20 years of extraordinary customer service and a stellar 4.8 ⭐ average rating, we stand by our process and your guaranteed satisfaction.

Every Purchase Gives Back

Every single purchase helps fund today’s most relevant and impactful causes so you can contribute to the causes you care about most, supporting people, pets, and the planet.

Join the Movement

Connect with millions of animal lovers and humanitarians that make up the GreaterGood community, and discover the power of collective impact. Together, we’ve raised over $80 million for charity and counting!