Don’t feed the ducks with bread as it pollutes waterways and attracts rats – try cabbage or lettuce instead, urges the Canal and River Trust
- The Canal and River Trust said hundreds of thousands of ducks are in danger
- It is recommended that the public feed them using chopped-up leftover veg
- Ducks normally feed on insects and grass but these are difficult to find in winter
It might seem like the most harmless of pleasures – and helpful too.
But not only is feeding bread to ducks like giving them junk food, it also pollutes waterways, encourages harmful algae and attracts rats, according to a charity.
Throwing bread into canals and rivers also leads to overcrowding of bird populations as they flock to popular locations ‘in search of their starchy treat’.
The Canal and River Trust warned that feeding ducks with bread was polluting Britain’s waterways
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The Canal and River Trust said hundreds of thousands of ducks need the public’s help to supplement their natural food sources as winter approaches.
But it recommended defrosted frozen peas, corn and chopped-up leftover vegetables as healthier than bread.
Ducks normally feed on insects and grass but these are more difficult to find in winter when the ground is often frozen. Greens including kale, cabbage and lettuce are healthy alternatives.
Peter Birch, from the charity, urged the public to seek out new families of ducks to prevent ‘large quantities of food clogging up the same places’.
He said: ‘Ducks and waterfowl need our support even more around this time of year… but please do it sensibly.’
The trust recommended defrosted frozen peas, corn and chopped-up leftover vegetables such as cabbages instead
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