Anyone who has tried to enjoy an ice cream cone or slice of pizza on the beach has probably had the experience of running afoul of pesky seagulls. These famous seabirds are found all over the world, breeding on every continent, including parts of Antarctica.
But the owners of a food truck on the other side of the ocean have come up with a creative way to provide “insurance” against birds stealing food from customers.
Hawkins BBQ, a food truck operating in the Isle of Man, a self-governing British Crown Dependency located between Great Britain and Ireland, recently began offering “seagull insurance” to its customers. The small business, which serves barbecue dishes like sliders, gourmet melts, and chips, recently posted on Facebook about its new policy.
And judging by the positive response, it seems like people are definitely supportive of it.
“It's fair to say that many people on the island have had one or two (traumatic) experiences with the island's exuberant Seagulls; whether it's being attacked while walking down the Strand or being attacked while eating an ice cream. [or] “Ice cream, we may have something for you!” read the policy released last week.
“We're introducing the first Manx Seagull Insurance to the islands! We've seen the idea take off recently and decided it's a must-have for foodies here!” the post continued, noting that from now on customers will be able to purchase the add-on for just one pound, which is guaranteed to replace a meal at home.
The owners also stated that they would donate all proceeds from the insurance to the Manx Wildlife Trust, a conservation charity that “works tirelessly to protect the island's wildlife, particularly the pesky puffins”.
“Don't forget to request protection from us on your next visit and enjoy a delicious barbecue meal stress-free,” the post concluded.
Matt Hawkins, chef and co-owner of Hawkins BBQ, said in an interview: Fox News Digital Seagulls are protected animals in the UK. However, because there are so many of these birds, they have become aggressive when it comes to scavenging – or stealing, as the case may be – from humans.
“We saw the idea in Scotland and it was easy to introduce ‘insurance’ to our customers in the Isle of Man,” said Hawkins. “We wanted to give our customers peace of mind while they enjoyed our food.”
“The public response has been fantastic so far,” he added.