My Neighbor Feeds Waterfowl, And It Causes A Mess [Block Talk]

ACROSS AMERICA — That one neighbor who always feeds geese and other waterfowl undoubtedly has a good heart.

Remind the other neighbors of that when the birds find life in the subdivision so cushy they refuse to leave, hatch a gaggle of goslings that also refuse to leave and, due to a population explosion, pollute waterways

Canada geese, for example, can drop up to a pound of feces a day. Do the math. It can pile up pretty quickly. It’s never just one goose. And goose droppings are prime breeding grounds for E. coli, salmonella and other bacteria that can harm people and pets.

Geese are territorial and don’t like to share their space with humans. When they or their nests are encroached upon, they can become very aggressive and seriously injure people by biting them or attacking them with their exceptionally strong wings.

There are more reasons not to feed wildlife in the winter than there are to continue this misdirected show of empathy toward our feathered and four-legged friends. They adapt quickly to changing seasons, wildlife officials say. If a food source isn’t readily available, they’ll move on to another area.

So, what do you say to the neighbor who acts like a food pantry for waterfowl and wildlife? Multiple cities ban feeding waterfowl and wildlife.

Do you attempt to discourage them in a friendly neighborhood chat in which you list all the reasons they’re doing the wildlife a disservice? If that doesn’t work, is it OK to call animal control authorities or the game warden?

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About Block Talk

Block Talk is a regular Patch feature offering real-world advice from readers on how to resolve everyday neighborhood problems. If you have a neighborhood etiquette question or problem you'd like for us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com, with Block Talk as the subject line.
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