Articles & Resources
Please Don't Feed the Ducks
By Melanie Pearson
Feeding ducks is tempting. You have an old loaf of bread, it's a
nice day for a walk, and the ducks seem so desperate for food. Feeding
ducks and geese has been a pastime for generations, but the more we
learn about wild waterfowl, the more we realize how detrimental feeding
them is.
Feeding bread to ducks and geese is the equivalent of feeding your
child nothing but candy. Ducks and geese like bread, and will clamor
for it much like a child will ask for candy. But bread has no nutritional
value for waterfowl, it fills their stomachs up so that they do not
eat the foods they need in order to remain healthy. Birds without
proper nutrition will quickly succumb to disease and death.
Nutrition is not the only reason we shouldn't feed wild ducks and
geese. Feeding wildlife causes many problems, for the ducks and for
the environment as well. Here are just a few of them:
Overcrowding
Where birds are fed, more birds will come, usually leading to a crowded
situation. More birds mean more droppings. Excess feces cause water
pollution, create an unsanitary environment for human recreation,
and lead to the spread of disease in the bird population.
Disease
Many avian diseases have been attributed to duck feeding. There are
documented cases of waterfowl dying from enteritis, aspergillosis,
and avian botulism, all due to excess food left floating in the water.
These diseases spread quickly throughout populations due to the overcrowded
situations that feeding waterfowl causes.
Aggression
Ducks and geese, although acclimated to humans, are still wild animals
and thus unpredictable. Many ducks and geese that get used to humans
will become aggressive towards humans and towards each other.
These are just a few of the problems associated with feeding wild
waterfowl. If you are interested in reading more, please visit:
http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/reg8/wild/feedwfowl.html
http://www.liveducks.com/bread.html
Most people feed ducks with the best of intentions, not realizing
the negative impact of their actions. Now that you know, you can help
by not feeding the ducks and by educating other duck lovers. If you
would like more information, feel free to call the New Canaan Nature
Center at (203) 966-9577.
|
