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Outrage after crossbow attack on town seagulls - Comment on this story
SCARBOROUGH residents and bird-lovers have condemned the heartless attacks on the town's seagulls which left one with a dart in its head and another with an injured wing.
The gulls were fired at with a crossbow bolt in Burr Bank, off Sandgate, in Scarborough's Old Town, yet despite their ordeal both birds are still alive.
Cllr Janet Jefferson, who is chairman of the Castle Ward Tenants and Residents Association, said she was disgusted by the callous attacks.
She said: "I absolutely abhor any such attacks and it is appalling that anyone could do this.
"The seagulls are part of our seaside town and it is a terrible act and for a resort like Scarborough because this is something that we don't want to see.
"I just cannot understand why anyone would want to do such a thing."
Cllr Ros Fox, of St Sepulchre Street, said she was worried the incident could spark further trouble in the area.
She said: "I just cannot understand the mentality of people who go around and deliberately target birds.
"Everyone needs to be vigilant and tell the police as much as they can if they see something or hear about the incident because people could get seriously hurt in the future.
"It is obviously extremely dangerous for someone to be using a crossbow in public and I worry about where the arrow could have gone if it didn't hit the bird because it could have easily hit a person."
Ian Kendall, site manager at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, said he was disgusted at the attacks, especially as they come at a time when seagull numbers are dwindling.
He said: "It is difficult to encourage people to love the herring gull but they are part of the coastal heritage and they are synonymous with the seaside and always appear in the traditional comedy postcard sketch of the area.
"It is an horrendous act and you have to take into account the fact the birds are now in their breeding season.
"They will be nesting and acts like this will deprive a bird of its mate and the chicks of one of their parents.
"The gulls do have a phenomenal tolerance of pain and can put up with a lot but their numbers are actually declining and they are now on the red list which means their population has dropped below a level that is now giving us cause for concern.
"It is also extremely worrying for me to think that someone is wandering the streets of Scarborough with a crossbow."
Visitors to the Evening News website have also hit out at the attacks and called for those responsible to be brought to justice.
One person said: "The culling of gulls is occasionally necessary but there is absolutely no need to take an innocent life, we live by the sea and get gulls in this area.
"What kind of person can do this sort of thing, sleep at night and probably laugh about it?
The town's donkeys and children could be next thanks to these irresponsible people.
Another said: "These idiots would not let it stop there and anybody visiting the town could become a target for a crossbow bolt.
"However, we wont see it coming as I am sure these cowards are hiding behind windows and waiting for another opportunity to maim some innocent being, whether it be an animal or a human."
Anyone with information about the attacks can contact the RSCPA Cruelty line on 0300 1234999.
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Weather for Scarborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North east
