If you’ve ever had a seagull swipe your lunch, science may have a cheap fix for you. Researchers from the University of Exeter found that putting eye-like markings or googly eyes on food packaging can make gulls think twice before going for it. In tests, birds took longer to approach and were less likely to peck at containers printed with eye-shaped designs, compared to plain packaging. The thinking behind it is simple: animals often treat direct eye contact as a sign that something is watching them, which makes them more cautious.
Earlier studies from the same university showed gulls also slow down when real people are watching them. In one test with 30 gulls, more than half never even approached the packaging with the eye markings. It’s not a perfect fix, but it’s a low-cost way to cut down on food theft at the seaside.
Source: Dexerto
