Seagull Dies after Screwdriver Attack

Staff from a fast food restaurant in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, were shocked when they found an injured seagull outside of their store.

The gull had been stabbed with a nine inch screwdriver which went into the birds spine and left it paralysed. Staff from the restaurant cared for it while they waited for the RSPCA to attend. The lesser black-backed seagull was taken to the Vale Wildlife and Rehabilitation Centre which is based in Beckford, near Tewkesbury. For the last 26 years the charity has cared for ill, orphaned and injured wildlife. Staff there treated it but it died from its injuries. I asked Caroline Gould from the centre if she had any comments to add. She told me: "This is one of the worst cases of mindless cruelty to wildlife that I have seen in 26 years of this work. Whoever did this obviously has no conscience whatsoever and it makes you wonder what else they would be capable of." The RSPCA have said that they are looking at CCTV footage and are appealing for any witnesses to come forward. The problem of seagulls in Cheltenham is an ongoing issue and the problem seems to have worsened lately. The Telegraph report that a cull could go ahead later this year. The usual approach to lessen the numbers had been to oil the gulls eggs so they wouldn't hatch. Anyone who wants to find out more about the Vale Wildlife Centre can go to: http://www.valewildlife.org.uk/