Did you know? Bread is bad!

If wild ducks and geese eat too many carbohydrates, they can become overweight in proportion to their body. Bread, crackers, and other carbs do not contain the vitamins and minerals their natural diet provides. The excess weight affects their wings, limiting or even completely eliminating their ability to fly. It is a state of malnutrition, caused by an inappropriate and diet. The carbohydrates fill their stomachs, and the ducks don’t forage for natural food, which contains the vitamins and minerals they need for survival.

Ducklings require several weeks growth before they can fly, but they will be on the move a couple of days after hatching to find food and water. They are natural foragers, and the mother duck will lead them to an area with healthy food options such as dandelion greens, insects, and snails. Because they are natural foragers, it is important for their survival to have healthy food sources and clean water available. Having a native shoreline buffering your lake property is beneficial to many types of wildlife, including ducklings. A natural buffer stabilizes the shore from the action of waves, provides habitat for wetland birds and insects, and shades and cools the water helping fish to thrive. Natural shoreline plantings also capture sediment and reduce nutrient runoff that reaches the lake.

Looking for more information? Visit: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/wildlife/waterfowl/waterfowl-minnesota.html