Waterfowl Management

- Their Poo is Fowl Too

Do Your Part

One simple choice to make is don't feed ducks and geese.

Take The Pledge

Step 1 of 3

I pledge to protect water by deterring waterfowl.
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Pledge 1
- I pledge to not feed ducks or geese.
How many ducks/geese did you used to feed?*
- The number of ducks/geese I used to feed was between 1-3 per week
- The number of ducks/geese I used to feed was between 4-6 per week
- The number of ducks/geese I used to feed was between 5-10 per week
Here's how your choices protected our environment!
Phosphorus Reduced
Pounds per Year
Algae Prevented
Pounds per Year
Bacteria Prevented
Billion per Year
View Assumptions
- View Assumptions (optional)
Phosphorus - This calculation assumes that a single duck excretes a total of 0.22 grams (0.00049 lbs) of phosphorus a day1 in its waste. This calculation also assumes that the waterfowl are being fed 3 times a week, 20 weeks out of the year (not fed during the winter, early spring, and late fall). By not feeding the waterfowl, the amount of phosphorus entering the nearby waterbody is reduced to said waterbody. Yes, the waterfowl will still be excreting waste no matter where they are, but the nutrient loading will not be as concentrated since the waterfowl will have to search elsewhere for food versus coming to an area for easy handouts.

Algae - In this calculation, information about the amount of algae prevented from our lakes and streams is provided. Knowing that one pound of phosphorus can produce 500 pound of wet algae, one can calculate the amount of algae prevented by using the amount of phosphorus reduced.

Fecal Coliform Bacteria - The fecal coliform bacteria calculation assumes that a single duck produces an average of 27 grams of waste per day4 and that each gram of waste contains 1,000,000 CFU (colony forming units) of fecal coliform bacteria5. This calculation also assumes that the waterfowl are being fed 3 times a week, 20 weeks out of the year (not fed during the winter, early spring, and late fall). By not feeding the waterfowl, the amount of fecal coliform bacteria entering the nearby waterbody is reduced to said waterbody. Yes, the waterfowl will still be excreting waste no matter where they are, but the amount of bacteria will not be as concentrated since the waterfowl will have to search elsewhere for food versus coming to an area for easy handouts.

References

Watch out!

Feeding geese and ducks can be fun, but what comes out the other end creates dangerous pollution problems in our waterways.

Waterfowl & Water

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Waterfowl Management

Resources

U of Minnesota Extension – Algae Adage

All Resources

Waterfowl Management

Waterfowl Management

- Their Poo is Fowl Too

Do Your Part

Take The Pledge

Step 1 of 3

What does it all mean?

Watch out!

Waterfowl Management

Resources