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Hand-Fed Ducks Not Flying South for WinterAt Cuddy Park, ducks linger by the hundreds getting handoutsRelated Content
ANCHORAGE - Don’t feed the ducks! That’s the message Fish and Game wants to spread as more and more ducks are wintering-over in Anchorage. But feeding ducks is a tradition many people treasure, not to mention a chance for Alaska kids to get up close to wildlife. “We don’t feed the moose or the bears,” said a young mom whose toddler was enjoying throwing bites of bread to the ducks at Cuddy Park in Midtown. “It’s nice to be able to feed the birds.” But Fish and Game says determined duck feeders may be causing problems for the birds they love. There are at least a thousand ducks that have crowded into the pond at Cuddy Park which still has open water. They don’t appear to be leaving any time soon. “They are getting free handouts and they have open water, so why leave?” said Fish and Game biologist Mike Petrula. Petrula says it’s not illegal to feed the ducks, but it is discouraged. The well-fed birds get used to people and their vehicles, causing traffic jams in the park parking lot when they don’t feel like moving. Cherie Northern with the Anchorage Waterways Council said there’s another concern: ducks can be dirty. “When you have this concentration of wildlife and birds in one area they are going to go to the bathroom in the water. That increases the fecal coli form which contaminates the water all the way downstream,” said Northern. Northern said the pond, which is man-made, connects to the city’s Fish Creek water system and contaminants can flow throughout its shallow waters. But, she said, ducks are just a small part of a much bigger problem when it comes to stream pollution. Biologists said as long as people continue to feed the birds they will stick around.
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TedtheBear said on Friday, Nov 23 at 11:17 AM
It is a well known fact that many homeless who claims to be veterans, are not veterans at all. Just pretenders. Holding a sign saying that they are veterans, gained more sympathy. ADN did an article some time ago about some of the "veteran groups" that is out on the street corners like between Sam's Club and Diamond Mall. They discovered that some of these guys never served a day. When working in correctional facility, I was often humor by claims of so many inmates who stated that they were Vietnam War veterans, Iraq War and all that. There were not. One really old looking inmate claims to have fought at Iwo Jima until it was discovered that his father wasn't born until 1945!! It was his massive drug used that aged him into looking like he was 80 instead just 38. I saw him couple of years ago, holding a sign stating that he was suffering from "agent orange" and wore a purple heart (store brought no doubt)>
107473271June said on Thursday, Nov 22 at 2:31 PM
You see those guys in their little Am Vets uniforms? The ones with a whole assrtmt of flags, panhandling for funds to give to the homelss vets they don't want panhandling, what a joke. It's still vets, only in uniforms flying flags. They embarrass me. Wish they'd go home, but someone keeps feeding them too!
107170431TedtheBear said on Wednesday, Nov 21 at 9:42 PM
Cooljulie, although there are laws against feeding ducks, people still do it. There are laws against pan-handling but people still do give them money. Just saw it today along Northern Lights. Ducks may leave,,,if they really start to get hungry. Some may not make it but some may. But the ACLU will definitely not be a happy campers if put all the homeless into Coleman canoes and push them off toward Hawaii. Nice idea but I hate to think of the innocent trees dying in their massive paperwork mill.
107137721myfewcents said on Tuesday, Nov 20 at 3:54 PM
About the Homeless situation, I can agree that handing out $ is not the answer. You can support a charity or some sort of counseling center and stop enabling drinking to oblivion. About the birds, Julie I thought you were going somewhere else with the comment. But tasty ducks to the homeless, I might want to join in on a roast duck meal.
107051232cooljulie said on Tuesday, Nov 20 at 2:07 PM
Ok Ted, now let's apply your comments to humans. Didn''t Anchorage pass a law against giving handouts to the beggars on the street corners? Here's an idea- lot's of hungry homeless people, lots of tasty well-fed ducks...hmmm. Put them all on a plane headed south. Way cheaper than feeding any of them for another winter.
107046341TedtheBear said on Tuesday, Nov 20 at 10:06 AM
This sound like a welfare case....you get used to the free handout, no longer willing to work.....in their case..to fly. Actually Amanda....we should NEVER feed any wildlife...Sept or May or anytime. People who do that are the ones responsible for dependency like this to developed.
107028261Yuuup! said on Monday, Nov 19 at 5:01 PM
Amanda...kinda like you? yeah real easy. Instead of your pseudo boldness, put your info on here.
106980961AMANDA said on Monday, Nov 19 at 4:13 PM
So easy to write behind a computer right, with no name required.
106977522Anonymous said on Monday, Nov 19 at 4:05 PM
HaHaHa...I was wondering when one of these brilliant minded liberals would respond. Real bleeding heart....awesome and soooooo compassionate.
106976996Amanda said on Monday, Nov 19 at 12:02 PM
what pertinent comments you all must be so proud of your intelligence. I have noticed the ducks that remain, I have worried about there survival in these cold winter months. As "humans" with the ability and choice to help, we need to have a ban on feeding these ducks starting mid September. As a mother of a young son I understand wanting you child to feed the birds, but lets have just a small window to do so. These ducks will learn that they are not getting fed after a certain time and will leave to warmer waters.
106961302Bar'aq the Clown said on Sunday, Nov 18 at 8:09 PM
If we stop subsidizing the liberals that move here from Taxifornia, Oregone, and Washingdone, maybe we can get THEM to leave to and good riddance!
106917771TectonicSurfer said on Sunday, Nov 18 at 5:37 PM
Stop feeding them humans, and maybe they'll leave.
106911371houndg said on Sunday, Nov 18 at 4:23 PM
I bet they were blue ducks, if so they will never make it . The first time they land they will be looking around for someone to feed them.
106907471Anonymous said on Sunday, Nov 18 at 1:14 PM
You mean if we stop feeding the homeless drunks they might fly south? Worth a try....
106896995Yuuup! said on Sunday, Nov 18 at 10:23 AM
“They are getting free handouts and they have open water, so why leave?” said Fish and Game biologist Mike Petrula. We understand it with ducks, but not people...That cracked me up!!!!
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