Skip to content

Don’t feed birds in the parking lot

Vernon wildlife control services owner says feeding ducks and geese, or any wildlife, is bad
13682535_web1_180926-VMS-a-ducks
A large number of ducks congregate in a north end Vernon shopping centre lot “to be fed, and fed regularly” surmises a reader. A Vernon wildlife control services operator says feeding ducks or geese or any wildlife is a bad idea. (Photo submitted)

A Vernon resident took a picture of a north end shopping centre parking lot, not really close to any water, save maybe Swan Lake and BX Creek, showing about 100 ducks on the pavement near a tree.

“Food is plentiful at this store,” wrote the reader. “Some (of the birds) get killed by motorists. Is this a good or bad idea?”

One Vernon wildlife expert said it’s a bad idea. Very bad.

“Absolutely not, do not feed them,” said Pete Wise, owner/operator of Wise Wildlife Control Services. “There’s a bylaw against it. Don’t feed the ducks. Don’t feed the geese. It only causes huge problems.”

RELATED: Kin Beach…

Among the problems, said Wise, is the birds won’t fly south for winter, rather they’ll just stay around the North Okanagan, waiting to be fed.

“It keeps them here and it causes a large problem,” he said. “They’re just hanging around. It’s a miserable existence. Once you start feeding them, they just keep coming, bird after bird after bird, which is sad.”

RELATED: B.C. communities want Canada goose kill permits

Wise said feeding ducks or birds in a parking lot is just like feeding geese or ducks on a beach.

“There’s goose crap all over the place,” he said.

Signs are posted on area beaches asking people not to feed ducks and geese. Wise wasn’t sure if the same signs are posted in Vernon’s Polson Park, a popular gathering place for birds and locals who like to feed them.

“It should be mandatory as far as I’m concerned, no feeding of wildlife, period,” said Wise.



roger@vernonmorningstar.com

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.



Roger Knox

About the Author: Roger Knox

I am a journalist with more than 30 years of experience in the industry. I started my career in radio and have spent the last 21 years working with Black Press Media.
Read more