Gull Control Permit Delays 2025: Apply by September for Spring 2026

If you’re planning to manage gull populations in spring 2026, take note: the rules of the game have changed. Due to staffing cuts at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services (USFW), gull egg depredation permits may now take up to 8 months for approval-a big jump from the traditional 8–10 week timeline.

That means if you wait until winter to file your application, your permit might not arrive until after the season has already passed. The safe move is to apply by September 2025.

Why Timing Is Everything with Gulls

Gulls are on a tight seasonal cycle. Eggs are typically laid from late April through early May, with an incubation window of 3–4 weeks. Once those eggs hatch, federal law prohibits any intervention until the next breeding season.

In other words, if your permit isn’t approved in time, you’ve lost your one chance for action this year. And by the time the next cycle rolls around, you could be facing an even larger problem.

The Cost of Delay

Missing the permit window has real consequences:

• Larger colonies – Gulls return to the same nesting sites year after year, making the problem bigger over time.

• Higher costs – Established colonies are harder and more expensive to manage.

• Greater damage – More nests mean more property destruction, sanitation issues, and biohazard zones.

Simply put, the longer you wait, the worse it gets.

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What the Permit Process Requires

A gull egg depredation permit isn’t something you can rush. It requires:

• Documented evidence of gull activity and nesting sites

• Records of property damage or health hazards caused by the birds

• Compliance review under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act

• Agency assessments for environmental impact and scope of action

If approved, your permit will outline the exact dates, allowable methods, and reporting requirements for egg removal.

How to Prepare Now

With permits taking far longer than before, it’s critical to start planning early. Here’s what property managers and decision-makers should do:

• Begin documenting gull activity now, even if nesting season feels far away.

• Assemble your application and supporting documentation well before September 2025.

• Adjust your planning cycles to reflect the new 8-month review timeline.

Bottom Line

The USFW’s reorganization and staffing cuts mean permit delays are here to stay. If you want to keep gull populations under control in 2026, the time to act is now.

Plan ahead. Document everything. And most importantly-get your application in by September 2025.