ladbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Warning Sign Reveals Why You Shouldn't Throw Bread Into A Duck Pond

Warning Sign Reveals Why You Shouldn't Throw Bread Into A Duck Pond

A warning sign highlighting the dangers of throwing bread into a duck pond has gone viral on Twitter

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

Going to the park to feed the ducks is the stuff of twee childhood dreams, but the pastime takes a bit of a dark turn when you suddenly realise you're not only harming the birds, but also killing their 'fish friends'. I know.

A warning sign highlighting the dangers of throwing bread into a duck pond has gone viral on Twitter, prompting many people to have the same realisation.

Posting a photo of a notice near a pond, Twitter user @F***yoCurve wrote: "I definitely didn't know this s***."

Some of us may have heard that feeding bread to the ducks isn't ideal, but it turns out it gets worse.

Twitter/@F***yoCurve

Written from the perspective of the ducks, the sign reads: "Thank you for not feeding us bread."

Explaining why, it continues: "Bread makes our tummies hurt and makes us ill.

"Bread does not contain the right nutrition or calories that we need to survive. It makes us think we are full and then we don't eat the food we need.

"It also pollutes our water and causes nasty surface algae, which kills our fish friends and gives us diseases."

Pixabay

Instead, the message advises people to feed them 'half cut seedless grapes, chopped lettuce, birdseed, peas, corn, and oats' instead.

The tweet - which was location-tagged at Deer Park, a city in Texas - soon went viral, racking up more than 125,000 retweets and more than 427,000 likes in just a matter of days.

The RSPB has previously warned against feeding birds bread, echoing the idea above by explaining it simply doesn't offer the nutritional value they need.

Speaking to MyLondon earlier this year, a spokesperson said: "Bread is not a natural source of food for water birds such as ducks and geese. For this reason, it is suitable for them only in very small quantities.

"Like humans, birds need a variety of food to be healthy, and bread doesn't offer birds the nutrition they need."

Giant plastic ducks were placed in the pond in Queens Park, Glasgow, to deter people from feeding the ducks bread.
PA

The spokesperson continued: "Although ducks, geese and swans are able to digest bread, it can leave them feeling full without them having gained the nutrients, vitamins and minerals they need from their natural food."

Explaining alternatives that people could use, they added: "People can feed other types of food to them which will be gratefully received. Things like peas, sweetcorn, oats and bird seed all provide more nutrition for birds, meaning they're healthier!"

According to the Canal and River Trust, bread can also attract many other birds and cause 'overcrowding', in turn resulting in an increase in droppings.

"This can cause further disruption, such as slippery surfaces and possible damage to habitats and waterways," the website explains.

The trust says that by feeding ducks other types of food, including frozen peas and rice, you can help create a 'less stressful environment for ducks and swans'.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Viral, News, Birds, Animals