Clifton Heights Neighborhood News: A Duck's Worst Enemy

Subject: A Duck's Worst Enemy
From: Clifton Heights Neighbor
Date: Thu, February 16, 2012 3:09 pm
To: "Clifton Heights Neighborhood News" <news@cliftonheightsneighborhood.org>

Human ignorance is a duck's worst enemy

Pet stores and animal shelters can play a part in educating the public about the dangers of feeding ducks. School children can be taught that respecting and protecting wildlife means not feeding them. Signs posted in urban areas, and laws prohibitting feeding ducks can be passed and enforced. In settings where domestics are encouraged by trained caretakers and feeding is allowed, feeders containing foods that are safe for ducks can be implemented. I've seen highly populated areas that provide feeders with proceeds going to local charities.

Photo courtesy of www.psd267.wednet.edu

Food attracts more than just ducks

1.) Feeding ducks attracts rats, pests and predators that kill ducks and endanger humans.
2.) Rotting food pollutes the water and breeds deadly diseases and parasites...
• A single outbreak of Duck Virus Enteritis (caused by artificial feeding)
kills all of the ducks.
• Uneaten food quickly forms a deadly mold called Aspergillus;
fatal to ducks without early diagnosis and expensive treatment.
• Avian Botulism (caused by artificial feeding)
kills entire waterfowl populations and hospitalizes people.
• Artificially fed ducks emit a parasite causing a condition
in humans called Swimmer's Itch.
3.) Ducks defacate at the site of scattered food or bread, bacteria in feces creates much higher risks for illness or disease.
4.) Most waterfowl die-offs in the past 10 years have been attributed to artificial feeding.
5.) Food waste bobbing on the water's edge is ugly.
6.) Ducks that are overfed create dangerous amounts of waste that harms fish and other animals living in ponds.

7.) Some foods like corn may be OK as a snack for ducks, but fish can't digest it and die. Seeds cause severe cramping pain in ducks.

Please don't feed the ducks