I could not believe it when I heard that they were going to shoot the sea gulls on Lake Auburn because their waste is suspected of polluting the water (Nov. 22).

How can it be proven for sure that the gulls are the main reason for all the levels of bacteria in the waters? What about all the rain that we have had? Water district officials should have scientists collect rainwater and test that to see what germs and bacteria it contains.

And what about all the boats in the summer? Those boats could have motors that leak oil and gas into the waters.

The city will probably find that killing all those birds won’t solve the problem. I haven’t heard yet that anyone has died or gotten sick from drinking the water.

The gulls go away in the winter, and they have been around for years. I think it is inhumane to kill them. I just couldn’t believe it.

And what about the fish in the waters? They defecate there also. Is there a plan to catch all the fish and kill them, too? It’s not just the birds that should be the target. There are other things officials should be looking at that could cause bacteria in the water.

Killing the sea gulls is and was very sad. I don’t think it will be the solution.

Sally Hanson, Peru