Is it ok for kids to chase ducks?

[QuackersQuestion]

Today at a family attraction, there were quite a lot of ducks, and a big lake. Lots of space for kids to run around.

Two primary age kids were chasing ducks around. The parent was loosely with them, could see what the kids were doing, and allowed the kids to continue to chase the ducks. Probably for about five minutes. No contact made with the ducks, just chasing right behind.

Another member of the public came into view, with their own family. And called out firmly but calmly to the two kids "Don't chase the ducks, that's wrong". This was the only person to comment out of quite a few passers by.

The kids ran away, the parent was shocked but said nothing, the commenting member of public kept walking. No great drama.

But it got me thinking. So my question is, is it bad for kids to chase ducks - YABU. Or is it ok for kids to chase ducks - YANBU. If you don't think it's ok, would you tell a kid who was chasing ducks, to stop?

I'd love to read the responses to this if it was about chasing seagulls when you are at the beach :)

Exactly the same. Pigeons too. Chasing animals isn't ok.

In our encounters with seagulls, it has always been the seagulls who have been the aggressors 😂. As for chasing them off, I always instruct my children to drop any food they're holding and back away. The beady-eyes cretins don't give up.

I used to laugh at people who took the entire contents of their house to the beach and insisted on rigging themselves some sort of second home on the sand, but I must admit this year we also took a beach tent with us purely so the kids could eat their lunch in it in relative safety.

Goldbar and Makingchocolate

I take your point about seagulls to some extent - they can be aggressive. I don't know what the answer is - they do what they've evolved to do, which is to snatch food when they see it. I've never had a problem when at the seaside, and I don't know why - I guess some places must have a worse problem than others. Perhaps some people feed them and that's got out of hand.

OK, seagulls can be aggressive and when they interface with people in an urban environment where fast food is plentiful, there can be a problem. But pigeons and ducks are very gentle (to humans), peaceful and passive creatures on the whole and don't need or deserve an aggressive response.

Just saying, people on this thread are so nice to animals, but never hesitate to judge / say awful things about other people that they don’t like.