Tourist allegedly punched seagull in St Ives after it snatched his pasty
A tourist is alleged to have seized and punched a seagull on the seafront in St Ives after the bird snatched his pasty, leaving witnesses “absolutely horrified” and prompting an investigation by Devon and Cornwall Police. The incident, which took place on the afternoon of Wednesday 10 June, has divided opinion locally even as animal welfare organisations stress that all gulls are fully protected under UK law.
According to witness accounts shared on social media, the man – said to be with his family – grabbed the gull and struck it repeatedly. One witness told the Cornish Times that the man “grabbed a seagull that had knocked the pasty out of his hand and punched the bird twice really, really hard,” leaving it unable to fly away and later found with a “big hole in its chest.” Rosie Reynolds, of St Ives Boat Rides, described seeing the man “just gripped a seagull and punched it to the point that it’s dying in a corner on the beach, all in front of the whole slipway.” She added that the bird’s chest cavity was caved in but it was still alive.
A parent who was on the slipway with a two-year-old child and a nephew posted on Reddit that a man had “grabbed a seagull and punched it almost to death in front of many people,” calling the scene “absolutely horrifying.” After the attack, one witness placed the injured bird in a quiet corner, noting that shock can be the worst thing for a wild animal. By the end of their shift, the gull was “up, and trundling around,” but had gone when they later checked. The same witness said the bird had “a sizeable rupture on its chest” and had taken “ridiculously hard punches.”
Public outcry and divided reactions
The alleged attack has provoked strong reactions online and among locals. Many expressed outrage, saying it was an act of cruelty committed in front of families and children. However, one local defended the suspected attacker, arguing: “I’m a bird lover but if a person ran up to me and tried to steal my property and I knocked them out, I would be praised. If he punched the bird instinctively protecting his property, it’s a lot different to planning the attack.”
Despite the swift spread of social media posts about the incident, Devon and Cornwall Police said they only received a “third-hand report” of the matter. A police spokesman stated: “Social media posts stated that a man punched and beat a seagull. Despite posts being widely shared online, the matter was not reported to us by anyone present at the scene.” The force is now appealing for witnesses and any footage from the seafront that afternoon.
Legal protections and conservation concerns
While some may view seagulls as a seaside nuisance, the law offers them robust protection. All gull species in the United Kingdom are fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is illegal to kill, injure, or take any wild gull, or to damage, destroy, or disturb their nests or eggs, without a specific licence from the relevant national authority. Herring gulls – a common sight in St Ives – receive absolute protection regardless of any perceived nuisance. Penalties for illegal killing can include unlimited fines and up to six months’ imprisonment.
The RSPCA has confirmed that anyone with information about the St Ives incident can contact its cruelty and neglect line on 0300 123 8960.
The legal severity stands in sharp contrast to the popular perception of gulls as aggressive food thieves. In fact, many gull species are in significant decline. Herring gulls, for example, have seen their coastal populations fall by more than 50% since the early 2000s and are listed as Red-listed species of conservation concern in the UK. Nationwide surveys show wintering gull numbers dropping from around 3.9 million birds two decades ago to under 2.5 million. Causes include avian flu, climate change, changes in agricultural practices, reduced fishing discards, and shifts in waste management.
Conservationists point out that gulls are increasingly adapting to urban environments because of easy access to food and nesting sites, leading to more frequent human–gull interactions. Studies suggest that human gaze significantly affects a gull’s willingness to approach food – only a quarter of tested gulls will attempt to snatch a snack – challenging the idea that all gulls are brazen thieves.
Previous incidents in St Ives
This is not the first reported case of cruelty to gulls in the town. In June 2018, a man allegedly kicked and stamped on a seagull after it tried to steal his chips, leaving the bird with a broken wing. In July 2021, a family was reported to have thrown cans at a seagull before a man allegedly beat it to death with a child’s spade on Porthgwidden Beach.
St Ives Town Council and the St Ives Business Improvement District (BID) offer advice on coexisting with gulls. Their guidance urges visitors and residents not to feed the birds, as they are capable of finding their own food and feeding can encourage aggressive behaviour. They recommend disposing of waste properly, eating in sheltered areas or against walls to deter swooping, and explaining to children why feeding gulls is discouraged. The BID funds signage and awareness campaigns to help reduce conflict.
