attack of the seagulls pymatuning

Even worse. They let the fish crap & pizz all through the lake. I won't swim in that cesspool.

Gulls are a federally protected species - probably very little to absolutely nothing PA can do about them other than clean up after them, or prohibit feeding to congregate them. 

The geese at Pyme, like in other areas, has increased dramatically over many years so much so that they have been considered to be a nuisance with all of their crap accumulating everywhere, including golf courses. I don't golf, but can understand how that would create tensions for the golfers and also for the families with young children that want to utilize the beaches. If I remember this correctly from many years ago, that was why a special season was declared for Canada Geese, to help control their numbers. I don't how many hunters participated in the special hunt, but it seems like there are more geese than ever and like many issues, there isn't one blanket answer. It's multi-factorial. To paraphrase Coldfront, I too prefer the "incessant squawking of the gulls as an early morning alarm clock over the noise of the inner city". Also as Cold has stated, Try as Man might, Nature will never be controlled completely and humans need to learn to compromise... . It reminds me of when I all to frequently hear there is an alligator problem in Florida and they need to be killed. There isn't an alligator problem, it's a people problem. Man has drained thousands of acres of canals and waterways, in essence destroying their homes that have existed for hundreds of years in order that we may create new waterways and build condos near the water. The 'gators are simply looking for a place to live, places where they were evicted from. There are many more examples of this, but I'll stop here as although still being tied to the original post, it could easily get lengthy and divert. Well stated Cold about humans needing to learn to compromise. I never considered your last statement as being directed towards anyone, but simply as you wrote , just a general statement. I hope that I wasn't coming across as attempting to control nature or being offensive in general. No worries.

Yes the Gulls are a protected species.But Can be shot from what I understand.If all other means have been tried to rid themSuch as trapping,Fish 5000 is correct about his comment
the Ohio beach does use a sound of some type to rid the gulls.There are several other methods also out there.As far as shooting them a permit needs to be applied for
from the United States Fish and Wildlife Agency.
We are all right there is no clear answer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvDpuIdY5WU
 
 
crappy

The seagulls I don't see any solution. The geese, the PGC needs to just open the lake and surrounding area to the 8 bird limit the rest of the state. The 3 bird on the lake limit and 1 bird limit outside of 100 yds of the lake is ridiculous especially during the September season that is used as a local bird control method. Everybody complains about the goose droppings everywhere yet they won't allow the hunters to help control the numbers. I know I live 30 seconds from the lake but will drive 30 minutes to hunt an 8 bird area. That same holds true with people outside the Pymatuning zone that won't drive to hunt in it.
 
I know this isn't on topic with the seagulls, but like I first said I don't see any solution to that other than them starting to allow hunting them, which is not going to happen.

The reason for the 3/1 bird limit as told to me by the Pymy WMA biologist. When they originally had the early season you where allowed 5 birds in the surrounding area except the small area west of rt6. After the 1st couple of seasons of this the number of opportunities and kills in the WMA went down.
He told me that although biologically they were fine with the number of birds killed in the early season some big wigs were hunting on the WMA and didn't like it. So they were forced to not only restrict the kill but also enlarge the area of protected/limited opportunity under the guise of the St James Bay flock.
Mike

Thanks Coldfront and Fishin Coyote for your responses as to the reason for a 3 bird limit. It seems to me there are a lot more geese than there used to be. It seems as if they went through a population explosion. Any ideas? Thanks in advance for replies!

  You're quite right Cold. Turkeys are common in the suburbs as well as deer, common enough that both are considered by some to be nuisance species. I've always thought it funny how some people in the suburbs are anti - hunting until deer started to eat their treasured young trees and shrubs. After that, they welcomed hunters taking deer. I remember when one went to the northern tier counties to hunt for both. Fox also have become common although not many see them as they are so secretive. It is a shame about the pheasants. I had thoughts at one time of getting eggs , incubating and releasing them. A noble effort, but where would they go? There's a good reason why their numbers have dwindled dramatically. Same with box turtles. I remember seeing a lot more when I was younger.
 Thanks also Fishin Coyote for your input. That makes a lot of sense about the CG. Like other species, they too have become considered to be nuisance species.