A series of herring gulls have been found doused in oil in the west of the Isle of Man, prompting concerns from conservationists.

Thirteen birds were discovered around Mill Road in Peel coated in an unknown orange substance and “smelling like fish oil”, while “many more” had been spotted, Manx Wild Bird Aid said.

The charity said it had been a recurring problem in the town since 2022, which “makes a mockery of our biosphere status and gives a terrible impression of our island’s attitude towards wildlife”.

The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture said it was aware of the reports and was investigating the cause.

The department was taking the issue very seriously and was “committed to assisting in the prevention of future occurrences”, it added.

The charity said the 13 birds had been collected and taken away to be cleaned but several other “partially oiled” birds were spotted and proved unable to be retrieved.

It warned the oil would kill most of the gulls “sooner or later” as the substance would hinder their ability to keep warm.

“When they go into the water they start getting waterlogged and become hypothermic,” it said.

The oil could also lead to birds sinking and drowning, it said, and the loss of a parent could lead to gull chicks starving to death.

The charity said there had been similar issues with oil in the town since 2022, with a peregrine falcon among the birds collected from the same area in the past.

“We should be ashamed that this is happening to birds year after year and nothing is ever done,” it said.

Defa has called for people who find birds coated in oil to contact the organisation.

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