Skip to content

Man Fined $124 for Shooing Seagull Away From Food on Beach

Sept. 10, 2018
2 min read
Close-Up Of Seagull On Beach
Man Fined $124 for Shooing Seagull Away From Food on Beach
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

Any beachgoer can relate to the feeling of sheer dread and helplessness that takes hold when a seagull swoops into their vicinity — especially if food is nearby.

Adding to the anxiety for one New Hampshire man is a $124 fine. The man, Nate Rancloes, was levied the charge after a seagull shooing incident on Hampton Beach, also in New Hampshire, that went haywire. According to Rancloes' version of events, he was just trying to enjoy a hamburger on the beach when an aggressive seagull swooped into his proximity. In a blur of shooing movements, Rancloes accidentally kicked the gull.

"I'd like to apologize and explain what happened," Rancloes told local media outlet NH1.com. "I had just gotten back from getting a cheeseburger and fries. I was sitting on the sand. Seagulls got to my burger, and while still sitting in the sand, I spun around in a circle with my leg out to shoo it away, and unfortunately, did strike the seagull hard. It was a one in a million bad luck kick that couldn't be repeated. This is no more than a simple mistake."

Even though the kick was an accident, New Hampshire Fish and Game will move forward with charging Rancloes for harming a federally protected bird, for which the $124 fine is the punishment.

According to NH1, a witness corroborated to the fish and game department that the kick was an accidental repercussion of the shooing away from the burger, despite several people posting on social media that Rancloes had harmed the bird on purpose.

Almost all types of gulls are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, meaning all beachgoers in the US must be careful how they shoo away the pesky avians or face a fine for violating the federal law, like Rancloes.

Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts
Featured image by Getty Images/EyeEm