Pacific Grove initiates three-step plan to get rid of Seagulls in downtown

When Thamin Saleh opened up a restaurant in Pacific Grove two years, he didn’t realize there were already tenants living on the roof – seagulls.

“They poop everywhere. The smell of downtown becomes awful. This is a restaurant, I don’t think we should have this smell around,” said Saleh.

Economic Development Director Mark Brodeur agrees. He initiated a three-step plan to fix the problem.

“The first step is to actually get the nests removed,” said Brodeur.

The city used drones to locate the nests. Brodeur said many of the nests have already been removed, but that hasn’t completely solved the problem.

The second step, which the city said many businesses have already done, is to install locks or doors on trash cans.

The city hopes the next step will be endthe problem: releasing raptors, or birds of preyto intimidate the seagulls.

“Seagulls, whenever they see raptors flying anywhere in the area, get nervous,” said Brodeur.

For one week atthe end of the month the city will release falcons or owls for eight hours a day. Also, the city is on a time crunch. Seagulls are federally protected birds and can’t be disturbed once their eggs are laid.

That’s good news for restaurant owners like Saleh. He’s on board with any plan to stop the seagulls.

“It’s a beautiful downtown, we should keep it clean,” said Saleh.

Some nests still remain on rooftops in the city. Business owners are required to remove them by Feb. 20th.