Beach food thieves can be stopped by seagulls with eye stickers

If you've ever been snatched away by a seagull while enjoying food on the beach, there's a study worth noting. A research team at the University of Exeter in the UK found that adding eye-shaped stickers to food packaging can effectively prevent seagulls from deodorizing food.

Why seagulls hesitate when faced with eye shape stimulation

According to a related study, seagulls significantly slowed down their approach to containers with eye markings, and their attempts to peck at food also decreased. As a result of a research team comparing 30 seagulls with takeout boxes with and without eye shapes, more than half of the seagulls did not even attempt to approach the box with eye shapes.

This phenomenon is based on principles already known in animal ethology. For many animals, direct eye contact is perceived as a signal of threat. Seagulls also become more cautious about taking food if they feel that someone is watching them.

Connection with existing research

A research team from the same university had previously published similar results. If a person gazes directly at a seagull, it takes the birds much longer to approach the food. This study proved that a similar deterrent effect can be achieved simply by eye shape design instead of the actual human gaze.

New solutions for coastal cities

Of course, this method does not 100% prevent seagulls from deodorizing food. However, it can be a practical solution for coastal tourist cities because it can greatly reduce the probability of damage with a cheap and simple method. As inconveniences caused by seagulls have long been a problem in beach areas where takeout food is widely consumed, it is highly likely that the results of this study will be used as a new response.