A NON-profit organisation caring for the welfare of birds said a seagull attack on a woman in Rhyl last week may have followed a previous “unnecessary and criminal attack” on a parent gull by another person.

Last week, the Journal reported that Sue Holdsworth was attacked by a gull by Rhyl library at about 1.30pm on Thursday, June 23.

She also said she reported the attack, which left her head bleeding, to Denbighshire County Council (DCC).

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Woman’s head left bleeding from seagull attack in Rhyl as RSCPA rescues two chicks

Earlier this week, Denise Theophilus, of the Caernarfon-based “Foundation For Feathered Friends” (FFFF), said she believes this incident may have been triggered by the mother gull being previously “deliberately threatened” by someone else.

This, Denise, added, has been reported to North Wales Police and the RSPCA as a wildlife crime, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

She told the Journal: “On Friday, June 17, a rehabber friend in Rhyl sent us images of a mother gull who had decided to nest in the disabled car park of the library in Rhyl.

“We emailed the library immediately, asking that clean water be left for the gull and that barriers be put around her for safety.

“What we also wanted to do in the long-term was take photographs on the development of the chicks, and perhaps do a little educational piece for the children who visit the library.

“We received an immediate response from Deborah Owen at the library, who kindly left water out for the gull and asked Highways (department at DCC) to put a barrier around her.

“She said she could not get very close, but ‘I could see at least one chick and an egg in there’.”

Following the Journal's report on June 24, Denise said FFFF contacted Deborah with concern that the incident involving the attack on Sue Holdsworth may have involved the gull that the group had initially written to Deborah about.

Denise added: “She responded saying that, when she got into work on June 20, the barrier had been pushed over, and there was nothing left in the nest, and that the parent gulls were on the wall.

“This would mean that someone had deliberately threatened the mother gull at some time over the weekend.

“Would this unnecessary and criminal attack have a bearing on the behaviour of the parent gull on June 24?

“Debbie said she did see a chick on that day, but that it would have fallen off the roof, in her opinion.

“Naturally, it is sad that an innocent person sustained the injury, but when such a bestial act has occurred, can you wonder that a parent gull was protective of its chick?

“It is only fair that it be pointed out what humans do to the gulls.”

Earlier today (June 30), the Journal learnt of another seagull attack in Rhyl.

Kaz Cook, from Mochdre, said her disabled daughter, Kimberley, was attacked by one outside the New Look store at the White Rose Centre, causing her to cry and her finger to be cut.

She said: “Seagulls need to be sorted out - one attacked my disabled daughter, cutting her finger and making her cry.

“Walking along path outside New Look, Kimberley, who is 20 and has Down Syndrome, was just about to take a cookie out of her bag.

“A seagull took it and cut her finger. She was very upset and started crying.

“I took her in to the centre to calm her down and get some tissues to stop the bleeding. It scared her - it was a big seagull.

“Something needs to be done about the seagulls; it's a joke.

“You can’t walk anywhere without them attacking you; it could have been a young child been more worse.”

Last week, a spokesperson for DCC said that the authority is considering ways to tackle this issue, but said options are limited as the seagulls are a “protected species”.

The spokesperson for DCC said: “Seagulls are a common cause of complaint for the council and are seen by some as a nuisance in our coastal communities.

“There have been reports of seagulls causing some injuries to individuals as they try and find food.

"Whilst the number of incidents is low, they can be very distressing. We would encourage residents to take care and be aware of seagulls while eating outside.

“We are looking at a number of ways to tackle the issue including encouraging residents not to feed seagulls, as well as working with food providers to reduce food waste and ensure any food waste bins are covered adequately."

"There are limited options to the council as they are a protected species and we need the public’s support.

"I would ask residents to take note of the message and not to feed seagulls.”

The RSPCA also rescued two chicks which had fallen into a drainpipe on Bath Street following the attack on Sue Holdsworth last week.

The RSPCA shared the following advice about seagulls:

• Gulls that swoop suddenly on people or pets are usually trying to protect chicks that have fallen out of or left the nest.

• They'll stop when the person or animal has moved away from their young.

• This behaviour usually only lasts for a few weeks until the chicks have fledged and are able to protect themselves.

• The best thing to do is keep your distance from any gull nests, or chicks that you see on the ground - if you can't avoid walking close to them, then holding an open umbrella above your head will help deter the parents from swooping.

Attempts have been made to contact North Wales Police and Deborah Owen for further comment.