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?

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.

Thank you. :) I live and learn!

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

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?

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

The need for food is sometimes greater than the potential of fearing something else.

It’s a choice a lot of animals risk. They risk the potential predator to feed or drink.

That doesn’t mean you can let your children treat animals poorly.

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

Agree with this. I was assuming small children.

Saw a family once laughing whilst their kids chased a number of wildfowl at our local lakes. All fun and games until several Canada Geese started flapping and honking and chasing back. Kids were terrified. I was laughing then, serves them right. You shouldn’t chase or antagonise any animal as a general principle - some of them absolutely will fight back.

It’s good to teach a basic respect for all sentient beings. I have never allowed my child to do it.

Have you seen the video of the baby who grabs a pigeon and tries to stuff it into its mouth before the parent intervenes? Little children don’t understand how to treat animals. Which is why its parents jobs to teach them - we don’t chase wild animals for fun. At any age or in any case.

If an animal is moving away then it doesn’t want to be chased and you need to intervene. This is really obvious.

Of course they do seem them as a risk. For a start there’s a stomping and falling risk.

Those pigeons are far from starving. If they genuinely thought the small child was a predator at risk of harming them they would simply fly/ scrounge for food somewhere else or wait it out until the child was gone.

I absolutely agree it’s unacceptable to be cruel to animals.

Of course it's not ok to chase ducks, or any kind of wildlife - it's cruel.
Much better to teach children kindness towards animals I feel.

A very minor risk that is easily avoided.

That’s exactly when a parent should educate the toddler so it’s just second nature to observe and respect.

That’s not how prey animals work. They don’t really assess risk like that, it’s safer just to get the hell out of there when they see a creature coming towards them

I don’t think you can kill an animal without causing them distress in some way- look at literally any footage of a slaughterhouse (even ‘humane’ ones). Since we don’t have to eat meat (or vegans and vegetarians couldn’t exist) it’s hypocritical to call out one form of animal abuse while participating in another, far worse form everyday.

its Their home
pigeons have been bred to be reliant on humans, they also know not to completely trust humans (or anything fast moving)

Really interesting to read everyone's replies.

I deliberately tried to keep my initial question neutral, as didn't want to bias the replies.

I wonder if it changes people's views when I say that the kids in question were probably 7/8/9 years old. Two of them. I don't think any intent to injure, they were just 'having fun'.

In this scenario, I was actually the member of the public who told the kids to stop chasing the ducks.

I clearly believe it's wrong, but I was with two other adults, one young, one older. Both felt it was wrong, but neither felt they would have said anything - one due to not interfering with anothers parenting, the other concerned about backlash. There were quite a few other adults around too. So it got me wondering how others felt about it.

Fwiw, I have had ducks, and they definitely can feel fear. Some breeds can be really sensitive. I also think the vegetarian argument is a bit of a side track, not really relevant.

I had assumed a toddler. It would bother me to see a 9 yr old doing that.

Then why are you saying chasing animals is okay? It’s cruel.

The pigeons may not be starving but that isn’t necessarily how a pigeons brain works. The need for food is still sometimes greater than the fear of a potential predator.

Because I disagree with you that a pigeon is fearful of their life / particularly distressed at being chased by a small child, for reasons stated above.

Are you a vegan?

Christ, I told two kids to leave a tree alone the other week. I wouldn’t have thought twice if they’d been chasing ducks.

So you think that an animal flying away, expending energy which is precious, is perfectly content to be chased? Even if it has to keep flying, keep running, keep using energy which it feels in its brain it cannot afford to lose?

Animal basics 101. Those birds are not happy with the situation if they’re moving away. Therefore you don’t allow it. Your kid’s desire to annoy wildlife isn’t more important than their lives. When they get stressed it has an impact. It’s not fair on them just because you think it’s cute or whatever. And if you teach the toddler it’s okay and what point do you suddenly decide it’s not okay? What lesson is that for a child?

expending energy which is precious

Is that how you feel when your child runs about the playground? What about walking / throwing a stick for your dog ?

If the pigeon is tired, it can very easily go have a perch somewhere out of reach.

It’s not the same thing!!! My child/dog don’t need to conserve their energy for other things that are vital. They live a life of luxury compared to wild animals. the pigeon may not be tired and it may be focused of finding food. That doesn’t excuse your kid and your poor behaviour.

Thats not an argument, it doesn’t equate.