Scarborough faces increasing herring gull populations causing 'gull muggings' as urban seabirds thrive. With summer holidays, seaside areas in England report rising incidents where gulls steal food from tourists. North Yorkshire council data shows 220 gull incidents on the Yorkshire coast from 2021 to June 2025, two-thirds involving attacks. Herring gulls now prefer human food over hunting at sea due to overfishing, warmer seas, and offshore windfarms. Scarborough's kittiwake nests increased by 39% since 2005, with urban nests rising 1,318% since 2005. Local authorities try gull-proofing measures like removing nests and installing artificial nests, but face backlash. Some resort to extreme methods like spikes and crossbows. Councils warn of environmental damage and PR issues as gulls become pests.