Feeding Water Fowl (Ducks and Geese)
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Red Creek
Wildlife Center often receives calls from property owners and
municipalities regarding the destruction and mess caused by large
numbers of ducks and Canada geese. The main cause of this situation
is very simply: PEOPLE FEEDING WATERFOWL! 
Most people
that feed waterfowl do so because they love animals and enjoy the
interaction. They do not realize the danger in which they are
actually placing the animals.
Nature balances
itself very well. A particular habitat has only enough food for a
certain number of animals. Once that food supply is gone, the animals
will move to a new habitat. If left to nature, ducks and geese will
eat the food supply in an area BEFORE the area becomes so
contaminated with feces that it becomes unhealthy. Once the
animals have left, the earth cleans itself through enzymes and micro
activity and a new food supply grows. The newly rejuvenated habitat
can once again support wildlife and the animals return, starting the
cycle all over again.
The number of
eggs laid by a pair of ducks or geese is in direct proportion to the
amount of food available. When food is artificially added to an area
by people feeding wildlife, the birds will over-populate an area very
quickly. They also will remain in the area longer, contaminating the
environment, making it unhealthy for people as well as wildlife.
Another good
reason to avoid feeding geese is for their own protection – to ensure
they retain their fear of humans. You may not pose a threat to their
survival, but if they do not fear ALL humans, they are bound to run
into an unfriendly one sooner or later.
Another reason
to refrain from feeding geese is that the foods commonly used, such
as bread and french fries, are nutritionally inadequate and cause
serious, potentially deadly impactions of the crop. Geese don’t know
when to stop eating, and the large quantity and the low quality of
food combines to create disastrous results. Young birds often develop
nutrition deficiencies resulting in crippling deformities. Most of
the time they die or have to be euthanized because by the time we
receive them the damage is irreversible.
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Goldeneye Duck Release
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May 2nd, 2007 at 1:38 pm
There is a duck at our local lake that has a fish hook through its bill, what can be done to help it?