ParkTalk Blog – Don’t Feed the Wildlife!

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

As winter’s chill dissipates and spring flowers begin to bloom, everyone is ready to pack up their jackets for the year and enjoy Naperville’s parks and trails. While community members reemerge from their own kind of hibernation, local wildlife starts to become more visible within the environment as well. Throughout the year, waterfowl, such as geese and ducks, swim in ponds or drift along the DuPage River. There are several wildlife reminders to keep in mind throughout the year, but one is especially important: refrain from feeding waterfowl foods like bread or crackers. While it may seem harmless, feeding waterfowl can alter their natural behaviors and negatively impact their health and habitats.

 "Do not feed wildlife" reminder imprinted along the Riverwalk.

Nutritional and Health Risks

Waterfowl require a varied diet to stay healthy. They need a balance of nutrients including amino acids, carbohydrates and minerals. Geese and ducks naturally forage for foods such as aquatic plants and natural grains that are full of the nutrients they need. Human food like bread and crackers, which are commonly fed to waterfowl by people, are considered “junk food” to waterfowl and offer very little nutritional value. While wildlife might find those foods tasty, bread and crackers fill up their stomachs, and as a result, they don’t eat as much of the nutritious, natural foods and this can lead to malnutrition. Additionally, uneaten soggy bread can absorb bad nutrients and bacteria which can make other wildlife sick.

Additionally, bread and crackers can lead to other dangerous aliments. Angel Wing Syndrome is caused by a nutritional deficiency due to the lack of proper vitamins and minerals. Birds with Angel Wing Syndrome have a deformed joint in their wings that causes the wing to twist outward and grow at an angle. Birds with this type of malformation are unable to fly, making it harder for them to survive. To prevent Angel Wing Syndrome, waterfowl must avoid diets with high protein, sugars and carbohydrates. Not feeding geese and ducks helps them forage naturally and stay healthy.

Wildlife Behaviors

When waterfowl become conditioned to receive food from people, their behavior fundamentally changes and it can affect their habitat and health. Feeding ducks and geese attracts large concentrations of birds to areas they normally don’t congregate. Overcrowding can lead to aggressiveness in the flock and unnecessary competition over food or other resources. This added stress can weaken birds and make them more susceptible to disease. Additionally, when ducks and geese overcrowd in one space, there tend to be more bird droppings in the same areas they eat. These factors aid in the spread of various diseases within and between flocks – some of which can affect humans.

Overcrowding can also lead to other behavioral changes to waterfowl. Ducks and geese have a natural wariness of humans and other predators that help them survive in the wild. When people feed them, they become more comfortable in their environment, which makes them more vulnerable to attacks by animals such as foxes and raccoons. And, when waterfowl become too comfortable around people, they’re less aware of their surroundings, which increases their risk of being hit by vehicles.

Regardless of the season, it is important to keep the environment and wildlife healthy. There are several practices to adapt in order to protect waterfowl and other wildlife in the area. To view more wildlife reminders, visit www.napervilleparks.org/wildlifereminders.