I’ve heard people in Denver wonder aloud why there are “seagulls” in the mountains. They tend to congregate in Walmart parking lots in the Mile High City. Even in the winter.
The truth is, there is no such thing as a “seagull,” according to the National Audubon Society’s website. Gulls are birds that thrive in a variety of environments, especially urban ones like Denver. They love Walmart parking lots.
Shoppers drop food all the time walking from the store to their car. Parking lots are also designed in such a way that gulls can easily spot predators. “Gulls are opportunistic feeders and will eat most things that are available to them, rather than specializing in one kind of prey or food,” according to Mental Floss. “They’ll feed on fish, insects, small rodents, fruits, and a lot of things discarded by humans. Parking lots offer plenty of trash and scraps, especially if there’s a supermarket or restaurant there, by way of dumpsters, garbage cans, and people who can’t be bothered to use either of those. Plus, manicured grass and other landscaped patches around the pavement can be good places to look for bugs.”