The bird problem has escalated out of control, Southgate Police Public Safety Director Thomas Coombs told Local 4 News, with the pests defecating on cars at the dealership and annoying residents.
"We were granted a permit from the state to use deadly force if needed to try and alleviate this problem," he said.
Police were given permission to exterminate 500 birds, believing that the gunfire would scoot away the other seagulls, The Daily Mail reported.
The City of Southgate had tried to get rid of the infestation by sending Department of Public Work trucks to plow through the seagulls on Tuesday night. But the attempt failed as the birds flew away when the trucks drove by but returned, the Daily Mail reported.
"The way we chose, it wasn't all that successful. I would guess that we were able to kill anywhere from 100 to 200 of the seagulls," Coombs said.
Coombs said shooting the birds was a 'last resort' and that officers planned to give it another go.
"We believe along with the state this is the most humane way to do this," he said.
Don Shulz, who works near the seagulls, said the birds were costing the Saturn car dealership money.
"They swoop down on us, getting in and out of cars. It's an additional cost to the dealership to keep the cars clean and if you don't clean them it will damage them,' he told Local 4 News.
