MONROE - "Do not feed the ducks" is the new message on signs installed last week at Honey Creek by the Piggly Wiggly store in Monroe.
The Green County Department of Land Conservation made the move to ban duck-feeding along the stream for environmental and public health reasons.
"It was just creating a mess," said Todd Jensen, head of the department.
A growing horde of bread-hungry fowl have been hanging out at Honey Creek, waiting for hand-outs and defecating.
So much duck manure concentrated in one spot is "highly detrimental to the quality of water in Honey Creek," according to Jensen. The excess phosphorous from the manure limits the creek's recreational use, stinks, depletes oxygen levels and degrades the quality of drinking water.
In 2008, when county workers restored the streambank to stop erosion, Jensen said they discovered a 4-inch layer of duck muck on the bottom of Honey Creek.
On a recent afternoon, the ducks still hadn't gotten the no-feeding message. A herd of dozens waddled toward human visitors, quacking in expectation.
With time, Jensen said, the ducks will seek out more secluded habitat and get back to a more natural feeding pattern - and away from the heavily trafficked roads nearby.
"There's always a lot of roadkill. Maybe if we get them moving out, we won't have so many roadkill ducks," Jensen said.
- Katjusa Cisar
The Green County Department of Land Conservation made the move to ban duck-feeding along the stream for environmental and public health reasons.
"It was just creating a mess," said Todd Jensen, head of the department.
A growing horde of bread-hungry fowl have been hanging out at Honey Creek, waiting for hand-outs and defecating.
So much duck manure concentrated in one spot is "highly detrimental to the quality of water in Honey Creek," according to Jensen. The excess phosphorous from the manure limits the creek's recreational use, stinks, depletes oxygen levels and degrades the quality of drinking water.
In 2008, when county workers restored the streambank to stop erosion, Jensen said they discovered a 4-inch layer of duck muck on the bottom of Honey Creek.
On a recent afternoon, the ducks still hadn't gotten the no-feeding message. A herd of dozens waddled toward human visitors, quacking in expectation.
With time, Jensen said, the ducks will seek out more secluded habitat and get back to a more natural feeding pattern - and away from the heavily trafficked roads nearby.
"There's always a lot of roadkill. Maybe if we get them moving out, we won't have so many roadkill ducks," Jensen said.
- Katjusa Cisar