Is it ok for kids to chase ducks?

No I don't think it's okay to chase birds.

But I will say, I view an 18m old baby waddling after a group of ducks differently to how I view a gang of six year olds running full pelt at them. I can understand parents encouraging the former without necessarily being cruel

Right. And I don’t think pigeons see children as predators who are at risk of eating them- their (pigeons’) behaviour displays nothing of the sort- nor is that part of their environmental reality, and surely they can perceive that a child is far too slow and clumsy to catch them?

They enjoy it because they aren’t prey who risk getting eaten

Thank you. :) I live and learn!

My children enjoy being chased . Literally one of their favourite things.

I’m shocked by this thread. I’m a vegetarian and passionate about animal welfare. I really don’t think pigeons being chased are enormously distressed or fearful of their life. They fly off and then straight back again. Children are slow and clumsy and don’t have a hope in hell of catching a bird that can fly.

Absolutely not ok for anyone to chase wild animals. Total stupidity by the parent allowing it to happen and teaching the child some pretty shit values.

Not OK but I do think there’s a massive disconnect between MN and real life as everyone I see out and about just lets their kids run after pigeons/ducks and pull the heads off flowers etc.

I do say something but I’ve been told to mind my own business by the parents more than once. And some respond by encouraging the kids to do it more.

I don’t think people have much respect for wildlife in general these days to be honest.

(Am vegetarian and have never eaten duck.)

It makes me so sad to see any living thing scared.

Obviously, not the scared kids when I shout at them!🤣

Not OK, but I wouldn't say anything and risk anger from the rough, undisciplined type of parent who lets their children do this.

@TartanPaper I googled- several dogs have chased gulls off cliffs and survived!
I’d not want to take that risk.

My dog once picked up a young Crow
It’s parents went crazy, unsurprisingly
I said “ LEAVE IT!” And thankfully she dropped the baby who was unharmed

We bought some food ( corn and mealworms)to leave for the Crows by way of an apology.
The Youngster is full sized now, he or she has a grey marking on the left wing.

Thankfully the parents are ok, too
I thought they’d remember us.

I think I heard of that story.
If people think their dog is likely to chase, best to keep it on a leash for the safety of all.

There was a case a few years back near me of a dog that was chasing gulls and chased one off a cliff. It didn’t survive, I don’t think.

One Christmas Day there was a young couple allowing their puppy to dash about near an adult 🦢 swan.

Swan hissed a few times, and obviously knew it could escape and plopped into the lake.

The puppy carried on running after the swan and disappeared under the water.

It’s owners panicked, but were able to lift the puppy out by it’s saturated coat /harness.

I have seen people allow their dogs to chase cattle, too- Idiots.

Not ok. The amount of times I've seen the same thing though re kids and ducks or pigeons...

It’s NEVER ok to chase any sort of wildlife & I would & do point this out to anyone doing so. It’s disgusting.

Animals get chased to be eaten - they literally think it’s life or death.
If you chased an animal too much it would die from fright or exhaustion.

A child does not have that survival instinct and would likely think it’s a game and understand that the person is just chasing them for ‘fun’, like many chase games that they play.

If they were being chased to scare them, then this is the same fear that an animal feels.

So it is much crueller to chase an animal (especially a prey animal) than it is a child.

We wonder why there are so many dog attacks on kids - because parents do not teach their children how to behave properly around animals.

Of course it’s wrong to let your kids chase ducks.

Just like it’s wrong for teenagers to chase toddlers.

I can’t imagine ever going to a park and start chasing all of the little kids.
I’d end up having the police called on me.

It is up to the parent to teach their kid not to be a little bully and that means by treating others and animals with respect, especially those that are smaller and weaker than you.

Aww that's lovely

You're aware that humans ARE animals right? Mammals, to clarify. Not as intelligent or evolved but just as capable of feeling as we are. In fact that makes it worse as they are not capable of understanding that its just a child.

Did you know that pigeons are monogamous? They choose the same mate to breed with every year, even 'date' and eventually build a nest together. There's a whole courtship ritual. They feel. Maybe not as complex and as wide a spectrum as we do but they are capable of feeling love, grief, fear.

Teach your child some respect and empathy for other creatures.

Of course it's not OK to chase ducks, or kick at pigeons, or anything like that that kids regularly do, and yes I always tell them to stop.

I am a vegetarian, but would also expect meat-eaters not to cause stress or potential harm to wildlife for fun.

@Bubblesallaround
have a look at your local wildlife trust events page. They do phenomenal events for toddlers and young children. Normally very cheap, things like pond dipping, tardigrade hunting, owl pellet dissection, bat walks. As a family we have learnt so much from them, they are fantastically run and so good for you and your child to learn about nature and how fascinating it is.

Yes. If you don't, then you'd be 'that parent'.

AKA - A bit of a dick who can't manage their child and complains when little Johnny turns into a resident nightmare.

I agree with you but at least pigeons can fly away. Ducks can't at this time of year.

I've actually seen parents stand idly by and even laugh while their toddler runs into a flock of pigeons and scares them.

No, it isn't okay, ever, for a child to learn that tormenting/frightening nonhuman animals is okay, or that those animals exist for our enjoyment. This is where speciesist beliefs begin and take root, in childhood.

I'd say if they'd not seen them before and got excited, I'd think a kid of 4 or so might instinctively do it, but they should be corrected.
You can look at them but not run at them, shout at them or try and touch them. Or throw stuff at them!
Me and my dad found a swan that had been shot in the neck once. It still upsets me now 40 yrs later!