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?

No it's not okay to chase animals of any sort. We were on holiday a few months ago in Portugal and outside the restaurant quite a few children were harassing a baby gull. I was so annoyed the children's parents weren't telling them off. I spoke to the waiter who just shrugged.

It's not okay and anyone who lets their child chase wildlife for the hell of it is a selfish prick who's raising a future inconsiderate member of society.

Then you need to go a study avian nervous systems and the damage that can be done by chronic or repeated stresses. Multiple children chasing ducks daily or alternate days can cause repeated stresses and can do damage to the birds physical systems.

If you think it’s acceptable for animals to be treated this way just do some research into the science and you will understand why people get so cross about it.

Ducks mostly shed their flight feathers at the end of the summer so can't fly. And they aren't designed for running fast. I would have said something as it's cruel. Feed ducks, chase pigeons if you have to.

It’s not a bit though is it

yours in your garden might be a bit
in the park, it’s child after child after child.

Your voting explanation was so odd 'is it bad to chase ducks YABU' makes it sound like YABU is 'you're unreasonable to think it's bad to chase them, it's fine' so your responses are probably a mixed bag as a result.

pigeons don’t deserve chasing either

we had them as pets, food, companions for decades. Made them reliant on humans, trained them to be with us. Then discarded them when we didn’t need them anymore. They are still reliant on us, their nature is still to be with humans.

nothing deserves to be scared for fun, not an ant, a frog, a fox or a bird.

No, it's not OK. I spoke to a boy who was throwing stones at a baby seagull on the beach. Just made him think twice about harming a baby. Children have to be taught to respect wildlife and pets, just as they have to be taught not to bully other children.

a rat?

What? Not OK to chase pigeons. They aren't toys.

I wouldn’t let my kids chase ducks but In a park situation wouldn’t say it’s causing a huge amount of stress to the ducks, they could easily fly away if they chose too and the trade off from being occasionally chased by children and getting fed huge amounts of extra food by humans is clearly worth it to them or they wouldn’t be there. Outwith the park setting chasing wild birds could put a lot of stress on them and interrupt normal feeding and breeding behaviours so is absolutely never acceptable. This include wild gulls and waders at the beach however people seem to think it’s acceptable to let their dogs chase them off the shore!

edited to say I have looked into the unable to fly during moult thing and I stand corrected, I didn’t realise this happens to wild mallards too.

You think animals don't feel fear? You'd be very, very, VERY wrong. A human could actually articulate their fear or reason that the person chasing them might be having a joke. An animal does not, it simply feels the threat of something 20 times it's size chasing it. It assumes it's about to be killed. It feels terror.

@RedHelenB animals absolutely do feel fear, I had a beautiful rabbit who had been bullied as a young baby who died of fear seeing a fox in the garden. I was out in the garden the fox didn’t get anywhere near him but simply seeing it killed him. It was so sad as he was doing so well and I thought we had it under control

my current ones don’t go outside as one is equally nervous outside of a space they can cintril

it is awful awful behaviour

@RedHelenB the amygdala has been identified in most species. Not yet in invertebrates but it hasn’t been written off that they don’t have an alternative, scientists aren’t really sure on how they process such reactions and we may never know.

Animals very much feel fear. They don’t show it in the same way that humans do, but they absolutely feel it on the same level.

Edit: I tagged the wrong person, apologies

I didn't say that, I said it's an entirely different argument. Humans are top of the food chain and eat meat. Therefore animals need to be killed. It should be done in a humane way. Chasing an animal for FUN does not serve any purpose other than to cause extreme fear and sometimes a pointless, wasteful death.

Geese are great!
The farm where I kept my horse had ''Guard Geese''- they advanced, necks low and beaks hissing and honking Squawking at anyone they didn't recognise.

Better than dogs, as this Prison found out!

You're just suffering from a massive dissonance if you think like this. And animals aren't humanely killed. They're not pts with an injection their heads are bashed in and their throats cut

No it’s not ok for kids to chase wildlife. It causes great stress to the animal.

Why do you think dogs have to be on a lead around wildlife and farm animals ? Because they may chase/ attack them!

I agree with the stranger telling off the kids.

I’d do the same.

If you’re incapable of parenting your child, someone else will !

Have you not taught your children to respect animals??

No it’s not ok to chase any animal- they don't know it’s a game and they’re not going to get hurt.

And yes I would( and have) say something

Would and have told off children for chasing animals.

I think parents who allow their children to pester birds, or any wildlife really, are complete twats.

No hyperbole. You just lack basic awareness.

Children should be taught that all animals should be respected. That includes NOT chasing them for fun.

The fact that you say you own chickens and ducks and still condone chasing them begs belief. I think you are just a wind up merchant and you don't have the faintest clue about keeping poultry. #bsalert

Agree 💯

Awful.

Way to go to teach your kids that teasing or mistreating animals is a fun game 😡

Dont let your children chase ducks, it’s cruel . The next bird they decide to chase might be a goose, see how well that works out for them.