• Animals and humans tend to react with avoidance or vigilance when they perceive that they’re being watched.
• Researchers in the UK decided to test whether adding eyespots to take-out containers would deter gulls from pecking at them and stealing food.

The eyes are the window to the soul, but they might also be a solution to seagulls stealing food from beach tourists.

Building on previous research, scientists decided to test whether adding eyes to food packaging would deter gulls from going after food. Humans and animals have developed a response to eye-like stimuli. If people or animals perceive that they are being watched, they tend to increase vigilance or attempt avoidance. When there’s direct eye contact, that is often perceived as aggression.