With the Rotary Duck Pond now complete in Island Park, it’s quickly becoming one of Portage la Prairie’s most popular summer destinations. But as more people stop by to relax at the edge of the water, a local wildlife expert is reminding visitors to admire the ducks, without feeding them.
Amy Wilkie, education program manager at Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre, says that feeding ducks and geese, especially with bread, is harmful to the birds, even when intentions are good.
“Bread pretty much has no nutritional value for wildlife at all,” Wilkie says. “It’s basically as if they’re eating like junk food all day long.”
Related stories:
- Rotary Duck Pond blossoms after years of hard work
- Petals and partnerships bloom at the Rotary Club Duck Pond
Health risks and unnatural behaviour
Wilkie explains that feeding waterfowl can lead to obesity and even a permanent condition known as angel wing.
“The number one thing that we see in them when they come to our centre is actually a condition called angel wing,” she notes. “You’ll often see geese and ducks that have been fed the improper food. They’ll have one of their wings sticking out at an odd angle.”
She adds that the condition typically can’t be treated, and it’s particularly common in areas with large duck populations and frequent feeding, like the scenic Rotary Duck Pond.
The newly developed space features a raised boardwalk, waterfall, and a series of “bump-out” seating areas designed for quiet reflection by the water. But Wilkie cautions against getting too close.
“In highly populated places, we often see a lot of aggressive behaviour from that wildlife because they’re so used to being fed from people,” she continues. “It kind of makes them not have their natural instincts to forage or hunt for their own food anymore.”
Natural food sources are best
While it may be tempting to toss a few crusts from a picnic, Wilkie says ducks and geese do just fine on their own.
“Normally they’re eating any sort of vegetation that they would find around the water,” she explains. “A common one that we feed the ducks and geese is actually duckweed. They eat things like lettuce, seeds, but anything that’s processed, especially for humans, is going to be really bad for their health.”
Even feeding so-called “healthier” foods can do more harm than good if it causes birds to associate people with handouts.
Leave the feeding to nature
Although visitors may want to interact with wildlife, Wilkie recommends people enjoy the Rotary Duck Pond from a respectful distance.
“We recommend just don’t feed them all together,” she remarks. “It could lead to all sorts of problems.”
Letting ducks and geese find their own food helps protect their health and encourages natural behaviour.
What to do if you find an injured animal
If a duck, goose, or any wild animal appears sick or injured, Wilkie says the best thing to do is call Wildlife Haven directly.
“We’ll be able to give them the best advice on how they can safely capture that animal and then transport it to our centre,” she says. “We have people all across Manitoba, so if there’s an injured animal, we’ll be sure to get to it.”
Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre is located just south of Winnipeg in Ile des Chênes and serves animals from all over the province, including the Interlake and Central Plains regions.
Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon.
Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@portageonline.com.
PortageOnline encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the PortageOnline app.