Apparently, the Best Way to Stop Those Lake Michigan Gulls? Yell at Them.

If you’ve ever been chased through the Sam’s Club parking lot in Holland by a gull with zero chill (guilty as charged), you know how bold these so-called lake gulls can be.

And while we may not agree on what they're called (It's lake gulls), what we can agree on is the fact that they’re menaces when it comes to fries, hot dogs, and anything remotely edible within a five-foot radius.

So what’s the best way to deal with one when it swoops down and locks eyes on your lunch?
According to researchers, it might just be as simple as… yelling at them.

A team of animal behaviorists from the University of Exeter in England set out to find the most effective way to deter hungry gulls. They placed portions of chips (fries, for us Americans) in prime gull territory and played three different audio clips. One of a man shouting “No, stay away, that’s my food!”, another of the same man saying the same words in a calm tone, and a recording of a robin singing.

The results were surprisingly clear. Nearly half of the gulls hearing the shouting voice flew away within a minute, while only 15% left when they heard the male speaking voice. Most gulls ignored the birdsong altogether.

The twist? The shouting and speaking were played at the exact same volume. That means it wasn’t about how loud the voice was, but how intense it sounded to the gulls. This shows that gulls can apparently tell when we mean business.

Researchers say this discovery is the first to show wild animals responding differently to human vocal cues, something that’s mostly only been seen in domesticated animals like dogs, cats or pigs.

So the next time one of those fearless lake gulls comes strutting toward your french fries on the pier, channel your inner seagull-scarer and yell, “Hey! That’s my food!"

It’s science-approved.