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Dogged Dogs Threaten Rare Seabird Colony
14 Jun
Summary
- Little tern numbers at Seaton Carew are down 50% due to dog interference.
- Volunteer wardens recorded 427 dog incursions into the exclusion zone in May.
- 55 nesting pairs are present, far fewer than the expected 110 pairs.
Seabird numbers at a key UK colony have been halved as dogs increasingly encroach upon protected nesting sites. At Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool, the population of little terns has been severely impacted. Volunteer wardens documented 427 cases of dogs entering the exclusion zone during May, with 93 violations recorded in a single June day.
These disturbances are causing significant stress to the birds, with concerns they may abandon their nests. Protective fencing was washed away by tides earlier this year, and while repaired, the outer dog exclusion zone faces numerous breaches. With only 55 nesting pairs present, significantly fewer than the anticipated 110, the future of this colony is at risk.
