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 disagree, it's one thing to eat meat because humans were designed to and another to cause distress to a creature purely for "fun". One serves a purpose, the other does not.

I hate it. It’s getting enjoyment out of scaring another creature, a smaller more vulnerable one. Why would you do it? Not just that but they expend energy they don’t need to

I always want to start chasing the child around to demonstrate it.

not sure that will end well though

Of course it’s not OK. I’m surprised you even need to ask.

? No. The fact that there are plonkers that do ..🙄

Only if they are gathering around you whilst eating. If you don’t do anything they get emboldened and start swooping at the food, I’ve had a seagull snatch food right out my hand before. A lochside cafe near me had issues as seagulls would swoop at the waitresses when they were carrying multiple plates and grab whatever they could.

Locals know to eat fast, shoo them off, and tidy away leftovers into a cool box or bin but lots of tourists around and so they get fed a lot.

In general I have a fairly live and live policy with wildlife, exceptions are made when they move into my house or steal my food.

That's where you're wrong, animals don't have feelings just like humans do. Still don't think chasing pigeons/ ducks should be encouraged but it's not quite the same as chasing a human with a machte.

I don't allow or encourage my children to chase animals, but I can't really get worked up about kids chasing pigeons in the playground tbh. It's a fenced area and the pigeons are free to leave if they don't like it.

What usually happens is this -

• Small toddler chases pigeon.
• Pigeon flies out of the playground.
• Small toddler stops, looking disappointed.
• Pigeon flies back, within toddler's eye line.
• Small toddler starts chasing pigeon again.

If I didn't know better, I'd say that the pigeon was deliberately baiting the toddler.

As for seagulls, they are absolute arseholes! I wouldn't let my DC chase them for safely reasons - they're mean bastards - but I'm certainly not shedding any tears if anyone else gives them what for. This summer alone, we've lost a cake, two Cornish pasties and a croissant to the buggers and they've terrified my toddler on at least two occasions. If they weren't protected, I'd probably be investing in a sling-shot myself!

Not ok. I don't allow my children to be unkind to any living creature and I tell off other children for chasing birds if their own parents are shit.

Yes you should.

This thread has made me smile because I actually had to chase my neighbours ducks back to their garden this morning. They were most aggrieved.

Although I don't think kids chasing ducks is very nice, ducks have wings and can swim, and if they are annoyed enough then they will generally go somewhere else. Unless you are attacking the nests, and then you may get a nasty shock as they will probably come back at you.

I was walking around a lake the other day and some people were letting their young child get very close to a swan, which was probably interested in food. She wasn't chasing it, but getting very close to a bird of that size is inadvisable. They can do some damage.

I left them to it. Recreational Darwinism and all that.

The posts calling out hypocrisy annoy me. Fair enough if you think people shouldn't eat meat but surely you don't think the people picking up some minced beef from Tesco to make a chilli con carne on a lazy Sunday are the same as people who torture kittens for fun?

You can think they're both bad but surely you can see there's different levels?

And it's the same with this. We are not talking about eating duck. We are talking about people causing stress to animals for fun and encouraging their children to.

The idea that the ducks might enjoy it is laughable. They fly away in fear of their lives. They come back because it's their home, source of food etc.

For someone to enjoy making something feel fear and stress is concerning to me. Shooing off seagulls who are trying to fly down and eat the food from your hands is different. It's trying to protect your food and your fingers and it's scary being repeatedly flown at.

I would even understand someone being frightened of ducks and trying to shoo them away from the immediate space.

Again fair enough to still think all of these are wrong but chasing a duck around a lake is completely different because there is no benefit to you except that you enjoy a living thing being scared of you.

It’s not ok it’s cruel. Last time this happened we were in a local big park very popular with wildlife, ducks and geese.

When you see the baby ducklings, goslings and even baby herons it’s cute. Squirrels are very tame there too. One side has a dogs allowed, the other is no dogs allowed.

I’m always surprised that the very popular cafe there doesn’t sell duck and geese food as bread isn’t good for them.

No.

HTH.

Of course it's not okay. Poor parenting for an easy life in the short term; otherwise, they'd have to engage with and redirect their children's energy and they clearly couldn't be arsed.

We have to deal with such children and parents in classrooms. It sucks.

Completely false equivalence. Even if they eat meat, most people still support cruelty free, humane rearing and slaughter of animals. Chasing an animal around and causing it a great deal of unnecessary stress, just for your own fun, is not even a comparison.

I recall my DB agreed about 5 or 6, was bitten by a local duck (just mallard) but it bloody hurt him.

We used to chase pigeons but were only scared of Canada geese and swans.

Of course it’s wrong! In the last few weeks, I’ve seen children chase ducks and swans (and yes, I did wish the swan defended itself), gulls and, shockingly, one who tried to stamp on pigeons while his fuckwitted parents walked along behind.

Yes, you should. Terrible parenting.

Yes it’s wrong to let children chase wild animals - just as it’s wrong to let your dog do it, Mrs Jones.

Even my dogs know better.

Wow. Surely you don't genuinely believe animals aren't capable of experiencing distress and fear? Have you ever interacted with an animal in any way??

These birds are not toys. No you should not chase them.

I thought pigeons carried a lot of nasty diseases so I thought that was why they were shooed away. Ducks, spiders and other harmless wildlife obviously not but I think this is where the thinking around pigeons comes from. You get spikes to discourage pigeons in cities as their poo is so toxic. I haven't seen ducks being chased, but pigeons yes

Chasing animals and potentially causing them distress shows a complete lack of empathy - and a complete lack of parenting. It's different if a dog wants to play chase with some toys of course.

Ffs what is wrong with people? No it's not OK to allow children to chase wild animals. You are teaching them that it's fine to cause stress and potential injury to a sentient animal. Stress exacerbates any underlying health issues in wildlife, chasing can cause injury as the birds scatter in panic and any young could be separated from mum in the process.

I have and will continue to point this out politely to children I see chasing animals. Because I care more about the welfare of the animals than what an entitled parent thinks of me.