Dumfries and Galloway Council has begun using drones and lasers to deter seagulls from nesting in built-up areas ahead of this year's breeding season, in a bid to reduce dive-bombing incidents without harming the birds. The move comes after licensing body NatureScot began insisting councils exhaust preventative measures before granting licences for egg and nest removal, prompting a shift towards non-lethal deterrents such as roof spikes, noise emitters, hawk kites and lasers.

The green laser beams are perceived by gulls as a physical threat, encouraging them to seek nesting sites elsewhere, while a drone helps identify where the birds are nesting. The council secured £10,000 from NatureScot for non-lethal deterrents, including a £3,000 Agrilaser 500 handheld unit, and has deployed measures across sites in Dumfries, Georgetown, Annan and Stranraer, though funding constraints mean not every council property is covered. The scheme follows a Scottish Government-backed "gull summit" that pledged £100,000 to councils nationwide, and comes amid wider action such as Moray Council's £650,000 deterrent programme and the appointment of Britain's first "gull ranger" in Eyemouth.