Stop bugging the ducks, please :)

[Swmhc]

You left out the part about the parents demanding a free vacation from Disney because they allow killer birds on their property, or how one of the mousekeepers left a towel bunny after the incident and they felt it was a way to torment their child.

Yep, they would be the ones suing WDW for millions of dollars for pain and suffering !!

 

[Poohbear123]

I have seen kids chase the ducks and bunnies at Epcot, actually climbing over a fence to do so. I watched them and when they started running after the ducks, I yelled; "HEY! Knock it off and get OFF the grass..now!" Needless to say, they looked at me, I looked back and shook my head, and they proceded to climb back over the fence...had no idea where the parents were. And I will do it again and again and again.....

 

[TDC Nala]

I would rather they stopped feeding the ducks.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

This Spring at the WL they had signs up warning not to touch the ducks. The lifeguards enforced this closely. Evidently the Red Tailed Hawk sitting ominously on top of the main building cannot read. I spotted him early, clearly waiting for something one afternoon. I kept looking back to check on him for about an hour and a half while my daughter swam. Toward the end of the day, I looked up and he was gone. I believed that he had simply moved on as the day was fading fast. This is how close the lifeguards watch the ducklings. As the light was fading, suddenly the mother duck directly in front of me just went crazy flapping her wings and quacking loudly. At nearly the same time, the lifeguard, who was also directly in front of me, began to wave his arms and safety float back and forth. Out of nowhere I saw a dark flash fly from up behind me. In an instant, the hawk had flown in and attempted to grab a duckling. He was unsuccessful due to the mother duck, a couple of unsuspecting kids, and the lifeguard (too many targets to fly around). I suspect that the hawk sits there, high up, many day gauging his chances. Often, he must have to wait to the last minute as he did on this day. I suppose he figured it was now or never as he was running out of daylight. He went home hungry! The lifeguard said this happens frequently. The hawk is not always unsuccessful.

My gosh, this is heartwrenching...sigh...

Hey - that's nature! What's the hawk supposed to do? It's gotta eat too!

Everyone sing "The Circle of Life" now.

 

[Gitts2008]

This is not a WDW story, but hopefully it will teach people to leave wild creatures alone.

My family and I were walking down Front Street in Key West and I saw a mama chicken with her babies on the sidewalk walking along. A baby chick fell of the sidewalk and into the street. He could not hop back up on to the sidewalk. Me, loving animals so much, went to help the baby and faster than I could move the mama chicken attacked me.

Did I deserve it? Yeah! I messed with her baby. Basically, as someone else posted when a person is attacked by one of the ducks or peacocks that they are tormenting, only than will they blame the animal for trying to defend itself.

 

[metime]

There is a park near me that used to be a popular place to feed the ducks and geese. Then the city realized that the geese were becoming aggresive and that some the eco system was being affected. First the geese were too fat to fly south and then the bugs were not getting eaten so they were overpopulating, and to top it off people were getting ill from the loads of feces left behind that was perfect for some bacteria or another due to the terrible diet the animals had.

Now there is a law and you still see people attempting to feed the animals but I simply let them know that there are signs posted, and most people when they find out why have no problem respecting the fact that wild animals should not be eating french fries and white bread.

I bet it is hard to enact in something like WDW where people are going to leave food even if by accident (I know the birds loved it when I accidently spilled a bit of rice once in the world showcase) but I am now a reformed wild life feeder.

 

[Kay1]

We have a park near our zoo where I live. There are tons of ducks, and everyone goes there to feed/watch them (sorry-I do feed the ducks ).

One morning my husband and I stopped by with some bread, and there were two kids with supersoaker waterguns spraying the ducks. I let it go for a couple of minutes, thinking the parents would intervene. Then, I just couldn't let it go any longer. The kids were about 5 and 7. I asked them to "please stop spraying the ducks, I really don't think they like it-would you like some bread to feed them?" I then took a couple slices of our bread and held them out for the kids. The younger one looks right at me and says "**** you, *****-I can do anything I want". I was shocked. Just stood there open mouthed and didn't say anything. Then the mother comes running over (she had been sitting on a bench in front of the pond the whole time). She comes over, cursing and pumping her arms (like she is going to hit me). She gets right in my face and says "don't you ever talk to my child, you *****, you are a ****** ****** and I am gonna kick your ***". She repeats this a couple of times. My husband comes over and just kind of moves me away quickly (I am just in shock and staring at her). We found the park ranger a short while later and reported the incident. I could not believe that the mother reacted that way, or that the child talked to me like that (although it made more sense after I interacted with the mother). It was very surreal.

I could not believe after 33 years, I was being "called out" (isn't that what they call it when someone else wants to fight you?) in a park, while feeding the ducks. Now, my husband and I can laugh about it-I mean, really who gets called out while feeding ducks??? The good news is, I stopped them from spraying the ducks long enough for most of them to escape. I hope the park ranger DID check it out and made sure they didn't continue after we left-he seemed very concerned and was walking that way.

I guess it's called calling you out (though maybe you called them out), whatever . . . you did the right thing, and good on you. Some people are just plain nasty and I guess their kids are too.

 

[yooperfan]

At WL. DH and I were having lunch at the tables outside but just past the doors at the bottom of the slanted hallway. The ducks were looking for food from us, a product of being fed all the time by guest. A kid you not, a duck came up to my DH and set his bill down on my DH's leg and just left it there, waiting to be fed. Reminded me of my dog. I got a picture of it but not sure where it is, this was a few years ago.

 

[Chad&Janet]

I don't want to overstate things here, but animal abuse is the kind of character flaw that's a precursor of things to come. As for ducks in the pools, I wouldn't worry too much. I've gotta believe those pools are chlorinated past the point where anything nasty can survive too long.

Absolutely 100% CORRECT. Since you didn't want to overstate it, allow me.

Research in psychology and criminology shows that people who commit acts of cruelty against animals don't stop there; many of them move on to their fellow humans. Children who harm family pets (or other animals who are posing no risk) are likely to progress to bigger and better forms of torment. Many psychiatric and psychological journal references support this fact.


Some other tidbits on this subject:

Animal abuse is not just the result of a minor personality flaw in the abuser, but a symptom of a deep mental disturbance.

The FBI has found that a history of cruelty to animals is one of the traits that regularly appear in its computer records of serial rapists and murderers.

Domestic abuse is directed toward the powerless; animal abuse and child abuse often goes hand and hand.

 

[Chad&Janet]

1

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

I guess it's called calling you out (though maybe you called them out), whatever . . . you did the right thing, and good on you. Some people are just plain nasty and I guess their kids are too.

You are correct but now we know where the kids potty mouths came from. I probably would have been in jail if that mother ever came in my personal space. It doesn't take much to teach our kids not to do certain things but it also doesn't take much to teach our kids to do the wrong things, AKA this mother's potty mouth. Kids learn by example.

Our DS13 never chased any type of animal anywhere. The only time he would feed or try to pet them was in a petting zoo. But that was it. All I can say is leave the animals be.

 

[Tiffany]

Okay, I want to keep things light and fun, since that's the theme of this website. But after just returning from a wonderful week at the Wilderness Lodge, I saw one thing that really grinded my gears-kids tormenting the wildlife. I realize kids will be kids, and chasing the ultra tame ducks and rabbits is fun, but where the heck are mom and dad to grab these little ones by the hand and say, 'no, don't do that'? I found myself playing protector of the wildlife everytime were were at the main pool. My guess is the lifeguards are not allowed to say anything, and the resort management does not find this to be a huge problem, but c'mon parents, step to the plate and do some parenting here, please?

Actually when we were at the WL this past Jan the ducks has just had babies and the Lifeguards made many announcements about leaving the ducks alone and even had to say that they would ask the ofenders to leave the pool if they did not leave the baby ducks alone.

 

[Mrsjvb]

Parenting 101 again, dont like kids dont go to disney. Ducks in pools is filthy btw...lol. Rocks and cruelty is wrong but a small kid walking with a duck or chasing a little rabbit seems to be fine by me.

so you think it is perfectly fine to have someone walk into YOUR home and chase YOU all around?!. because that's what the resorts are.. those animals HOMES/

That's exact same thing I said to a boy of about 9 or ten who was running DOWN the aviation wildlife at the San Diego wild Animal park.. NOT the 'interloper' ducks there on the free lunch program, but the free range Peacocks and Exotic animals. Oh yeah and BTW: the kid had the decency to look ashamed and apologize.. but Dad got in my face and told me he was just being a kid.


MY enjoyment of those animals was ruined because Junior was tearing after them and chasing them away.

and just because I don't like kids doesn't mean I have to avoid Disney. Disney is for the enjoyment of ALL people..ALL ages and ALL walks of life. don't tell me I can't vacation there just because I don't think the sun rises and sets on the younger set.

whatever happened to having a little respect for Mother nature and her Creations?!

 

[Mrsjvb]

I love this thread. It shows me that people really do care about animals and that I'm not the only one. I'm sick and tired of seeing kids harrass the animals and their ignorant parents that do nothing to stop it. I vow that the next time I see some little brat bothering a bunny (I have a bunny named Daisy) or a duck or any other animal I am going to chase and harrass the little kid to see how much they like it. Maybe the ignorant parents will pay attention then.

I *HEART* you....

 

[TiggerCat]

Absolutely 100% CORRECT. Since you didn't want to overstate it, allow me.

Research in psychology and criminology shows that people who commit acts of cruelty against animals don't stop there; many of them move on to their fellow humans. Children who harm family pets (or other animals who are posing no risk) are likely to progress to bigger and better forms of torment. Many psychiatric and psychological journal references support this fact.


Some other tidbits on this subject:

Animal abuse is not just the result of a minor personality flaw in the abuser, but a symptom of a deep mental disturbance.

The FBI has found that a history of cruelty to animals is one of the traits that regularly appear in its computer records of serial rapists and murderers.

Domestic abuse is directed toward the powerless; animal abuse and child abuse often goes hand and hand.

So let me get this straight, you think that chasing ducks as a child is a sign of a "deep mental disturbance" that will lead to mass murder? Hmmmm, you will need to provide me with a few more hard facts to back that one up.

TC.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I had posted this in another thread about a few weeks ago, but it seems appropriate, so I'll share again

At the Poly last September, there was this boy about 12/13 tormenting the ducks at the Poly. These ducks hang out around the pool and at the little beach. The kid was throwing things at them chasing them etc. A small kid won't know better but this big oaf should have. Anyway, I had enough of his crap..I went behind some of the landscaping/foliage near the pool where I was out of sight. In a loud voice I said "Leave the ducks alone, you little brat!"(wanted to use the other B-word, but restrained myself) LOL, his head whipped around like he was trying to find out where the voice was coming from, and he ran off. This was at night, so there weren't many people there.

As far as the ducks being dirty, think of this how many little kids pee(or worse) in the pools everyday. Kids are cute, but they're kinda germy too.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

When we were at Epcot last winter, we saw a little itsy hawk swoop down and grab a seagull and break its neck. The hawk then started draggging the gull body into some nearby bushes.

Unfortunately for this circle of life moment, a small child witnessed the whole thing and started howling his head off. Dad swooped him up in his arms to carry him off, and of course, the kid was facing the scene of the carnage as parents raced off in the opposite direction. (D'oh!)

DH and I and BFF who were there were startled by it. I can't imagine some kid from the city or the 'burbs who's never been exposed to the whole "circle of life" of it all getting that lesson at Epcot of all places! Goodness.

Back on track though, I have to say, my first morning at WL, cutting across the courtyard with my coffee, I had the pleasure of being stopped by two young gentlemen, about 8ish, who informed me in hushed whispers that there was a bunny on the path and to be careful. They were watching the bunny from a distance and warning walkers to give the bun a wide berth. There are GOOD kids in the world who will no doubt grow up into GOOD adults.

 

[PatriciaH]

We were at the Polynesian once sitting on the beach and there were two young kids throwing rocks at the seagulls up in the air. They were about 7-8 so old enough to know better. Their mom was laughing and taking pictures! Well, you know seagulls They thought the rocks were food and started to SWARM the kids! They were swooping down on their heads pecking and the kids and mom started screaming and running away while we just laughed and shook our heads. Sometimes nature gets them back.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...Back on track though, I have to say, my first morning at WL, cutting across the courtyard with my coffee, I had the pleasure of being stopped by two young gentlemen, about 8ish, who informed me in hushed whispers that there was a bunny on the path and to be careful. They were watching the bunny from a distance and warning walkers to give the bun a wide berth. There are GOOD kids in the world who will no doubt grow up into GOOD adults.

We were at the Polynesian once sitting on the beach and there were two young kids throwing rocks at the seagulls up in the air. They were about 7-8 so old enough to know better. Their mom was laughing and taking pictures! Well, you know seagulls They thought the rocks were food and started to SWARM the kids! They were swooping down on their heads pecking and the kids and mom started screaming and running away while we just laughed and shook our heads. Sometimes nature gets them back.

Two good stories.

 

[luvthemouse71]

We were at the Polynesian once sitting on the beach and there were two young kids throwing rocks at the seagulls up in the air. They were about 7-8 so old enough to know better. Their mom was laughing and taking pictures! Well, you know seagulls They thought the rocks were food and started to SWARM the kids! They were swooping down on their heads pecking and the kids and mom started screaming and running away while we just laughed and shook our heads. Sometimes nature gets them back.

Love it!!

Seagulls :1
Obnoxious humans: 0