Please, Do Not Feed the Animals!

[minnie mum]

My fear is being pooped on while at a park. I have this same fear going to work (downtown Chicago). Everyday I walk out of the train station and there are pigeons and gulls everywhere because of people feeding them. If I’m ever pooped on while someone nearby is throwing food, there will be a very unpleasant encounter with me. Magic and pixie dust will likely not be found anywhere.

I understand your fear completely, having had the experience. My recommendation- wear a comfy hat. I do now, whenever we're outdoors for any length of time.(more for sun protection- not getting bird poop in my hair is just a side benefit! )

 

[juliebug1997]

Also, don't chase or throw things at the animals. We watched some lovely little children--unsupervised--throw rocks at some bunnies at FW when we were there for HDDR. We told the kids to stop but they kept on doing it. When we yelled at them again to stop, they ran to their parents. No confrontation, but it was really sad for us as animal lovers.

 

[srferson]

Agree with everyone. (Other than RalphinSC. Sorry Ralph. )

Too many people don't think the rules apply to them. Or the rules are "stupid" so they don't need to pay attention.

And far too many people are more interested in their own immediate amusement than the health of the animals or the effect it will have on their behavior toward other guests.

I especially hate to see adults do these kinds of things in front of children. Bad influence.

 

[Disco]

I watched a Seagull choke down an entire turkey leg bone!
Freaked me out. It even had like a third of the meat still on it. Thought he was going to pick the meat off but no, tossed his head back and gulped it down.
I think he stole it out of a trash can though.

 

[UNCFanatik]

We were at Epcot last week eating at Yorkshire Fish Company and a family was feeding french fries to a duck and reaching down trying to pet it as well. I was hoping that the duck would bite them. But these same people would probably tried to sue Disney if that happened.

It is dangerous to the animals and humans.

 

[Kimi313]

I will be honest I have feed the ducks before but only because the other ducks were eating food off the ground and they kept attacking him when he would try and part of his beak was gone, it was so sad. But I do agree people shouldn't feed them, but I wonder even if they didn't feed them the fact there is so much food around the tables I would think they would eat it anyway and still get use to humans and still expect it.

On a lighter note, when DD was younger and she was watching the ducks at Casey's Corner eating all the french fries, she said 'do you think they tell the other ducks about DW and how there is so much food and people feed you or do you think they keep it to themselves".

 

[MinnieGolf]

One day at MK I saw a seagull swoop down and grabbed this girl's mickey ice cream bar! Than a short time later a seagull pooped right on my head!

A lactose-intolerant seagull should choose his snacks more wisely...

 

[srferson]

On a lighter note, when DD was younger and she was watching the ducks at Casey's Corner eating all the french fries, she said 'do you think they tell the other ducks about DW and how there is so much food and people feed you or do you think they keep it to themselves".

Awesome.

 

[mmay60046]

Last year when we'd try to eat breakfast outside of the Boardwalk Bakery the birds were quite aggressive, including those big ones that resemble a crane. I tried to shoo them away at one point because my nephew was kind of terrified that these birds were coming so close and trying to steal his food. Standing up and making loud noises and walking towards them does little. They just looked at me like they were thinking "what the hell is your problem, idiot!"

 

[kaligal]

I never noticed the signs all over the place.

It is annoying when people feed the birds, but it is generally not a big deal.

I have to laugh at the dopes who feed squirrels...like they're so cute and totally harmless. I have yet to see any of them bit, but I know I will one day.

 

[GraceMonica]

I saw a kid trying to feed a duck a plastic utensil once. He was chasing it around and attempted to hit it when the duck ran away from him. My party kept staring down the parents, and after a while the father came and collected his child. I now understand why these kids need leashes.

 

[mmay60046]

But I do agree people shouldn't feed them, but I wonder even if they didn't feed them the fact there is so much food around the tables I would think they would eat it anyway and still get use to humans and still expect it.

Last year we were at the Boardwalk pool and we brought down small bags of Dorritos for the kids to snack on. When my 5-year old got up from the table it took less than 5 seconds for the birds to swoop in and start snagging Dorritos right out of the bag. I reached over to grab the bag away and one of them flew off with the bag.

 

[mmay60046]

It is annoying when people feed the birds, but it is generally not a big deal.

Feeding birds makes them expect to be fed when they see people with food, and when someone with food has no intention to feed them they get aggressive in trying to take the food. Even if feeding the birds wasn't bad for them health wise, it turns them into a nuisance to other people who just want to sit and eat in peace.

 

[scubamouse]

It's funny because it's true!

 

[KristiKat]

I have an irrational fear of birds. Can't explain it, I'm just terrified of them. I can't stand for any type of fowl to be near me. For this reason I get very irritated when I see people feeding them. Dispite the fact I fear them, the food isn't good for them. It also causes them to fly around and dive for food whether the invite is there or not. They have become such pests. Not to mention my DH got pooped on by one. Okay, I admit that was a funny one but feeding them creates a problem for everyone.

 

[capegirl]

Living near the beach, I know just how aggressive birds can be, especially gulls. We have many tourists who get caught up in a vacation moment, and start feeding the birds, leading to a feeding frenzy. The first time we ate at the Flame Tree Barbecue we were sitting beside an elderly gentleman who was feeding the ducks until someone made a rude comment about his activity, and the fact that he had ignored the rules on the card. The man looked puzzled, and was clearly mortified. Since it was our first time eating here, I wondered what this 'card' was??? Well, it was not until I had finished my meal , and was cleaning my tray that I noticed the cute little 'do not feed ' card stuck on the bottom of my plate. Apparently, in our haste to wolf down the food, we all missed it. Now I am not defending anyone who would willing feed animals when they have been instructed not to do so, but there are times when people are in vacation mode, and just simply forget. Sometimes all that is needed is a gentle reminder to make people aware.

 

[Karabee]

Totally agree with this. Last time I was there, we were eating outside at WL and some kids near us kept feeding the ducks "breakfast". There is literally a sign right next to the area with all the tables. I stomp on the ground if they come to close to me and people look at me like I'm mean. I don't pay $10 for breakfast to have it taken by a duck!

 

[minnie mum]

It's funny because it's true!

HA!! I have that mug. MINE, MINE, MINE. It's also my screensaver.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

Living near the beach, I know just how aggressive birds can be, especially gulls.

next time you want revenge on the gulls feed them alka-seltzer then watch what happens

 

[stitch34]

We had a run-in with a CRAZY squirrel at ASmovies. We were eating breakfast outside, my daughter had this huge mickey waffle and squirrel came right onto the table and went to eat it! Our video is pretty funny of it, though.... me screaming GET OUT CRAZY SQUIRREL and banging the table. Freaked us all out!