Googly Eyes on Takeaway Boxes Deter Seagulls, Study Shows

Nothing ruins a relaxing trip to the seaside quite like a seagull swooping in and stealing your chips. The image of a hungry gull snatching a greasy fry from a tourist's hands is as iconic as it is infuriating. But help may be on the horizon, according to a study from the University of Exeter, which suggests that attaching googly eyes to takeaway boxes could deter these feathered thieves. The idea sounds whimsical—like something out of a children's book—but the research is grounded in serious behavioral science.

The study, led by Dr. Laura Kelley, involved placing pairs of artificial eyes on food containers and observing how seagulls responded. Conducted in coastal towns across Cornwall, where gull-related conflicts with humans are rampant, the experiment tested whether visual cues could influence the birds' behavior. Researchers set up two boxes side by side: one with eyes, the other plain. The results were striking. Gulls approached the eyed boxes more slowly and pecked at them less frequently than their unadorned counterparts. "Many animals are highly sensitive to eye contact," Dr. Kelley explained in a recent article for *The Conversation*. "Direct gaze can signal aggression or threat, while looking away suggests safety." The gulls, it seems, interpreted the eyes as a warning sign.

The team didn't stop there. To test whether the effect was temporary, they repeated the experiment with 30 individual gulls, presenting each with the same boxes three times over a short period. This time, the results were mixed. About half the birds avoided the eyed boxes entirely, while the other half quickly learned that the eyes posed no real danger and resumed their usual behavior. Dr. Kelley noted this duality: "For some gulls, the eyes might offer a sustained deterrent. But others could adapt to the trick." This suggests that while the method isn't foolproof, it could be part of a broader strategy to reduce food theft.

The findings have sparked interest among local food vendors, who are now considering testing the technique in real-world settings. "While this might only deter half the gulls, pairing it with other methods—like shouting—could significantly reduce theft," Dr. Kelley said. The study's implications extend beyond Cornwall. In cities where urban gulls have become notorious for raiding bins and picnics, such low-cost, non-lethal deterrents could offer a practical solution.

The research isn't the first to explore unconventional ways to keep gulls at bay. Earlier studies have shown that shouting at birds can startle them, though Dr. Neeltje Boogert, a behavioral ecologist at the University of Exeter, found that yelling—rather than merely speaking—produces the most effective results. In an experiment involving 61 gulls across nine Cornish towns, researchers played recordings of a man shouting, "No, stay away, that's my food," and found that the birds fled more quickly than when exposed to neutral sounds like a robin's song.

Yet, the googly eyes method stands out for its simplicity and cost-effectiveness. Unlike loud noises or chemical repellents, which can be disruptive or harmful, the eyes rely on the gulls' natural wariness of visual cues. "This is a cheap, simple way to mitigate conflict," Dr. Kelley emphasized. "It doesn't harm the birds, and it doesn't require constant human intervention."

For now, the study remains a proof of concept. But as coastal communities grapple with the growing nuisance of seagull invasions, solutions like these—however quirky—may prove invaluable. Whether the gulls will ever learn to ignore the eyes remains to be seen. For now, though, the sight of a takeaway box with a pair of googly eyes might just be the next line of defense in humanity's long-standing battle against the sea's most persistent thieves.