Newmarket council wants to remind residents to avoid feeding geese and ducks — and heed the signs saying that.
Councillor Christina Bisanz suggested installing more signs around local bodies of water at the Sept. 20 council meeting, saying while the town has posted some social media messaging on it, it remains a problem in the community.
“A lot of people don’t see social media,” she said. “I’m still seeing people going down to the ponds and the families with their children, and think they’re doing a good thing for the geese. But in fact, they’re really causing a hazard for them.”
Human food like bread is known to be poor nutrition for geese, as they feed exclusively on plants, according to Environment Canada. The municipality recently put out a social media warning that such foods can be harmful to geese and lead to conditions like angel wing, which can leave geese unable to migrate south for winter.
🦆🍞 🚫 Have you heard of Angel Wing? The name may sound nice, but this condition can leave geese unable to fly and migrate south for the winter. Improper nutrition, such as being fed bread, can be a cause. It’s best to keep the carbs for yourself and admire wildlife from afar. pic.twitter.com/XrTtJwfTpu
— Town of Newmarket (@TownofNewmarket) September 3, 2022
“Whether you’re enjoying the last days of summer at a cottage or taking a stroll by Fairy Lake, remember to admire wildlife from afar,” the town said on social media this month. “Don't feed bread to geese or ducks — doing so may have long-term impact.”
Mayor John Taylor said the request for more signs could be left with staff to report back on later. But he added that his family sponsored plaques years ago around Fairy Lake warning not to feed geese, which people are not heeding.
"You still often see people standing right beside the signs feeding ducks and geese,” Taylor said. “Everything we can to try to spread that message is important. Frankly, it’s not in a geese’s best interests, and it really impacts the use of our trails. It’s a cost-driver for our municipality to manage (geese).”
Management firm Geese Relief warns that feeding geese can also help populations grow as they become attracted to handouts. Relying on humans for food may also cause them to place themselves in dangerous situations after losing a natural fear of humans.
