As you are out and about on Lake Wallenpaupack you’ll probably see some local ducks. Among the many species of wildlife at the lake, ducks are one of the most common and friendly. Many of the ducks on the lake will swim right up to your boat looking for a snack, however, if you share with them you are not doing them any favors.
When wild ducks are fed human food, such as crackers and bread, their organs swell and become fatty. This can cause heart disease and liver issues, along with other health problems. In addition to these complications, poor nutrition is a concern when wild ducks are fed by humans. Being very low in protein, and having additives that wildfowl can’t handle, feeding wild ducks bread causes them to lose out on vital nutrients they need to survive and be healthy.
The natural diet of waterfowl includes aquatic plants, natural grains, and invertebrates which they can find all around the lake. Yet, when they fight each other over food offered by humans they don’t learn the skills needed to forage on their own. Competing against each other can also cause them to be aggressive towards each other, and us.
Not only do we have to worry about the health of the waterfowl, but our health is also at risk when we feed them. Ducks excrete their waste in the same place they eat, which can cause unsafe bacteria levels in the water that we swim and play in.
So keep in mind your health, and the health of the ducks, the next time they come for a snack.
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