Among the 19 types of seagulls found in portuguese territory, the ones with the highest incidence in Porto are the Lesser Black-backed Gull and the Yellow-legged Gull, already presented in the blog here. Unfortunately, there are more and more reports of seagulls attacking people in Porto. Most of the complaints are due to the dirt that the animals produce, surprise attacks, food thefts, aggression and excessive noise.

Owners of establishments that sell food have to warn customers in advance about the dangers of eating at the terrace, since the number of animals has increased rapidly in the last 2 years.

NaturPorto went to the streets and interviewed some people about their experiences with seagulls in the city of Porto. One of the most serious reports was from Kaique Antunes, an engineering student at the University of Porto: "I was with a group of friends near the Clérigos tower when I decided to buy a snack. Suddenly, I was attacked  by 5 seagulls at the same time. Terrible."

Studies carried out by the Institute of Biomedical Sciences state that birds are releasing multidrug-resistant bacteria through excretion with a high level resistance to antibiotics, turning them real threats to humans.

On the other hand, humans are also guilty for these birds' behavior. The presence of seagulls is common to most coastal cities by disposing waste out of containers, making it easier to locate food.