Don't Feed the Ducks: Help Keep the Lake Healthy
It’s a classic scene: kids laughing, ducks waddling, breadcrumbs flying. Feeding the ducks that you see in the lake might seem like a charming way to connect with nature—but it’s actually doing more harm than good. 😬
Here’s why we should skip the snacks and let the ducks do their thing:
❌ Bread = Junk Food for Ducks
Bread, crackers, chips, and other human snacks are like fast food for birds—filling, but lacking in nutrition.
Feeding ducks these treats can lead to:
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Malnutrition, especially in young ducklings
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A deformity called angel wing, which causes abnormal wing growth and prevents flying
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Dependency on handouts instead of natural foraging
🧠 Fun fact: Wild ducks are omnivores—they eat aquatic plants, insects, and small fish!
🦢 Too Many Ducks in One Spot? Not So Quack-tastic
Feeding can attract large numbers of ducks, geese, and swans to one area. While that may sound like a bird-lover’s dream, it actually leads to:
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Aggressive behavior and territorial fighting
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Overcrowding, which increases disease risk
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Disruption of the lake’s natural wildlife balance
💩 Yikes—More Ducks Means More... Poop
When birds gather in big numbers, their droppings can cause some big problems:
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Excess nitrogen and phosphorus in the water
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Algae blooms, which choke out oxygen and harm fish
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A decrease in water quality—not ideal for swimming, fishing, or boating
💧 Lake Wedowee is beautiful—and we want to keep it that way!
💚 What You Can Do Instead
Want to help our feathered friends and still enjoy the lake? Try this:
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Watch wildlife from a distance—bring binoculars!
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Pick up trash near the shoreline to keep the area clean
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Share the message: Feeding ducks = pollution + poor health
