Respect Our Ducks: No Feeding

Here in The Woodlands, you can go to almost any of our lakes or ponds and find ducks. They are such endearing creatures, it's easy to mistakenly think of them as neighborhood "pets"...but, they are not! They are wild animals and we should treat them as such. That means; no feeding the ducks your stale bread or lunch leftovers.

Feeding ducks for your own amusement is a selfish act, as it robs them of their "wild nature" and can also make them dependent on humans. Ducks that are accustomed to handouts can become unnaturally aggressive towards people. (If you've ever tried to have a picnic and had a duck harass you relentlessly, you know what I mean!)

From the biological standpoint, "people food" is not healthy for ducks. When young ducks eat a diet high in protein, as is supplied by bread, rice and other human food, they may develop a deformity called "angel wing", in which the wing sticks out at an improper angle. The bird is left unable to fly and vulnerable to injury and predation. Wild ducks are grazers and should eat natural vegetation (like the one pictured above!).

"Angel Wing is a disease that affects waterfowl, primarily geese and ducks. The disease manifests as an incurable anatomical condition which is acquired in young birds. Due to a high-calorie diet, especially one high in proteins and/or low in vitamin D , vitamin E and manganese, one or both carpus (wrist) joints are retarded in their development relative to the rest of the wing; for reasons unknown, if only one wing is affected it is usually the left one. The result is a wrist which is twisted outwards and unable to perform its usual function. Angel wing symptoms include stripped remiges (flight feathers) in the wrist area, or remiges protruding from wings at odd angles.

In adult birds the disease is incurable and usually leads to an early death as affected birds are rendered effectively or totally flightless. In young birds wrapping the wing and binding it against the bird's flank, together with feeding the bird a more natural diet, can reverse the damage.

The first involves too much protein and the second involves too many sugars. Angel Wing is not generally observed in waterfowl not residing near humans, and the disease can often be observed in areas where geese or ducks are excessively fed bread. To prevent Angel Wing, waterfowl should not be fed bread, popcorn or other human foodstuffs. "

With the change of the seasons, waterfowl naturally migrate from different areas of the country to search for food in warmer climates. Feeding them disrupts this natural pattern. Waterfowl populations also become unnaturally large when they are fed by people and their numbers may increase to a level that cannot be sustained by the natural food sources in the lakes and ponds.

Overcrowded conditions cause excess waste to build up in small areas, contaminating the water and the land. This waste causes harmful algal blooms, and excess food may sink to the bottom of the water and rot. Exposure to concentrated waste can cause increased disease among the waterfowl, such as botulism and avian cholera. Diseases can spread quickly through dense populations of humanfed waterfowl, already weakened by malnutrition and stress. Additionally, uneaten bread in the water can also produce botulism, which can kill other wildlife including turtles and fish.