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City passes ordinance prohibiting feeding wildlife in city parks

   The Frankenmuth community and its guests enjoy many outdoor activities, in the city parks and along the Cass River.

  Some of the interaction involves feeding the birds and other small animals with food fit for humans, and that is causing a problem.

  Last month, the Frankenmuth City Council passed a city ordinance regarding feeding animals in the parks. At a previous City Council convening, council members asked a Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wildlife biologist to speak prior to the public hearing about the risks of feeding wildlife.

  “We have had concerns the past year or so regarding people leaving large quantities of food in the parks, aimed for feeding ducks and other waterfowl. This ordinance addresses that,” Frankenmuth City Manager Bridget Smith said.

  It may seem like this is a relatively harmless interaction, but feeding the ducks and other fowl is problematic for several reasons.

  “There are real health risks associated with feeding ducks. First, feeding ducks commonly human-consumed food, like bread, can create nutritional deficiencies in the animals. Sometimes the nutritional deficiency can be so pronounced that it leads to "angel wing’ deformity, a condition in which a bird’s wing joint is deformed and twists outward, preventing flight,” Smith explained.

  This is almost always caused by a high-protein, low-nutrient diet, often a direct result of being fed inappropriate human food. Birds with angel wings are essentially grounded, making them incredibly vulnerable to predators and unable to migrate.

  Routine feeding of fowl leads to a concentrated bird population. This can create more than just a nuisance. Concentrated bird populations lead to concentrated fecal matter in the water, which can encourage algae and bacterial growth.

  "Dying organic matter – including uneaten bread and other food – can create a type of botulism that can harm all kinds of wildlife........

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