A food truck in the UK is offering its customers “sea gull insurance” with their meals in case the pesky birds happen to take off with their food.
Hawkins BBQ in the tiny Isle of Man, located in the Irish Sea between Ireland and Britain, is selling the insurance deal for just one extra pound — or about $1.30.
“I think it’s fair to say that many on the island have had one or two (traumatic) experiences with the islands’ enthusiastic seagulls,” the food truck said in the announcement on social media.
“Whether it’s being swooped on walking down Strand Street or attacked eating ice cream/gelato, we might have something for you,” the business quipped.
The small fee guarantees customers a full replacement of their meal if a seagull happens to fly off with one of their juicy barbecue sandwiches and loaded fries.
The proceeds from the insurance policy will be donated to the Manx Wildlife Trust, a nature conservation charity in the area, the food truck said.
“We saw the idea across in Scotland and introducing the ‘insurance’ to our customers on the Isle of Man was a no-brainer,” chef and co-owner Matt Hawkins told Fox News.
He explained that in the UK, seagulls are a protected species. They’ve become overpopulated, and therefore more aggressive in fighting for food, Hawkins said.
“We wanted to give patrons peace of mind when enjoying our meals,” he told the outlet.
The public’s reaction has been fantastic so far, he said.
“This is a cute idea and a lovely way to support the Wildlife Trust,” Isle of Man resident Helen Furner commented on the food truck’s post.
“What a fantastic idea,” Gail Anderson wrote.
