Signs erected to advise residents not to feed ducks

Whether you have to stop for a family of them to waddle across the road, or watch them swim in a local lake or park, it’s important to remember they are wild animals. 

Wingecarribee Council recently erected a sign at Lake Alexandra advising visitors not to feed the ducks. 

Many people have fond memories of throwing bits of bread to hungry ducks as children, but this innocent pastime can be dangerous to the wildlife.

The sign reads, “While they [the ducks] look like they want food, bread is not good for them and can make them sick.”

“Bread also pollutes water and causes algae which kills fish and gives ducks diseases.” 

A council spokesperson said there had been community complaints about people feeding ducks over the years. 

“We’ve received a few complaints and calls from residents, some via social media too, asking us to do something about people feeding the ducks,” the spokesperson said. 

“Some people have taken to installing their own home-made signs and attaching them to the fence in the past.”

Although the sign clearly reads “don’t feed the ducks,” it is not an ordnance sign, it is simply a word of advice, and council will not be issuing fines if people do feed the ducks. 

The sign is intended, however, to reduce the ducks becoming dependent on people for food and instances of aggressive behaviour from the birds and to stop people throwing loaves of bread into the water.

It has been proven that bread is unhealthy for ducks as they fill up on it instead of eating more healthy types of food. 

Before you next choose to feed a duck, remember that it can seriously harm their health.