This Historic NJ Hotel Is Using Hawks To Ward Off Seagulls: Report

CAPE MAY, NJ — A historic New Jersey seaside resort is using an unconventional method to keep pesky seagulls from disturbing guests and trolling the grounds for food, according to a report.

Visitors at Congress Hall in Cape May will likely spot Chase and Lilly, a pair of Harris’s hawks, patrolling the grounds of what is considered the oldest seaside resort in the United States. Five days a week, the raptors scare off seagulls to create a more enjoyable experience for Congress Hall guests, according to a NJ Advance Media report.

“We do believe it’s worth it,” Congress Hall manager Billy Scott told the publication. “Ultimately, it’s about our guests, so it’s a necessary means.”

The bird abatement program is similar to one introduced in Ocean City about five years ago. According to the Ocean City Daily, hawks, falcons and an owl are used during the spring and summer months to scare off nuisance birds in several areas of the city that draw visitors.

Ocean City contracts through Lodi-based East Coast Falcons to provide the service.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, falconry-based bird abatement is the act of using a raptor to pursue birds or other wildlife to mitigate damage caused by the animals. East Coast Falcons called the process "the only humane, effective solution for removing nuisance birds."

"When we fly our trained falcons, hawks or owls overhead, birds know instinctively that they’re being hunted – and they leave your unsafe place," the business states on its website.

Staff at Congress Hall are working with Paul Totten of Wildlife Control Specialist LLC, according to NJ Advance Media.