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• ANIMAL WELFARE & ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP Over the past several decades, society's understanding of and compassion for animals has evolved. What was once acceptable in zoos and aquariums is no longer thought to be humane. This is the same in our parks system. Across the country, cities are forgoing unnatural spaces in favor of more organic habitats. Our research on the topic of duck ponds specifically as it relates to animal and environmental welfare includes: Malnutrition' Through evolution, wildlife species have developed skills to obtain food that contains the essential nutrients needed to survive, reproduce and live a healthy life. These skills help maintain a balance between animals and their natural habitat. This balance is compromised by hand feeding, which is physically harmful to birds and is one of the primary causes of malnutrition. It would seem that providing food for ducks and geese would Visible symptoms of poor nutrition and advanced make them healthier. However, stages of starvation are often seen at artificial this is not the case. Waterfowl feeding sites. For example, waterfowl may have at artificial feeding sites are drooping wings or may lose their ability to fly. often found to suffer from poor nutrition. In natural settings, waterfowl seek and feed on a variety of nutritious foods such as aquatic plants, natural grains, and invertebrates. Many of the items commonly used to feed waterfowl (bread, corn, popcorn, etc.) are low in protein and are very poor substitutes for natural foods. 5 Natural foods are also widely scattered. Ducks and geese are able to find these foods and eat them in relative seclusion. At artificial feeding sites, competition for each scrap or kernel is high. Some ducks and geese (usually the youngest) are unable to compete for handouts. Visible symptoms of poor nutrition and advanced stages of starvation are often seen at artificial feeding sites. For example, waterfowl may have drooping wings or may lose their ability to fly. Malnutrition leads to: • Low energy and muscle deterioration. • Development of deformed wings in young birds. • Loss of flight later in life. • Lowered ability to avoid predation. • Decrease in successful reproduction. • Lowered life expectancy. Dependency3 Waterfowl, particularly mallards and Canada geese will congregate in areas with abundant food and space. Unfortunately, hand feeding can cause birds to become concentrated in small urban areas that are incapable of supporting large numbers of birds. The birds then become dependent upon humans for food and can become nuisance animals. Some birds can become aggressive and may need to be removed. Geese are territorial birds and will not hesitate to protect their nest and eggs from a human or house pet they see as a threat. An aggressive adult goose can easily knock down a child or senior citizen, and geese can fly up to 50 mph. An aggressive goose will hiss at you and rear its head and then perhaps charge. • Geese will fly up and hit a human, cat or dog in the face. This is especially likely if the goose has nested in a place near human traffic, including a parking lot or shrubbery near a building.