Although feeding wild, non-migratory ducks along the canal trail can bring joy, it’s important to do it responsibly. However, when done responsibly, can it still have a downside?

Many of those in our town know about the non-migratory ducks that live on the canal banks. Oftentimes, they will even cross the road from one side of the canal to the other, causing a delay in traffic. Despite their nuisance, locals and even commuters take an interest in feeding the ducks. In fact, when I was younger, feeding the ducks leftover bread or cereal was often considered a fun weekend activity for my family. While it seemed the ducks were happy from all the food they were being fed, I noticed other people feeding them donuts, fast food remnants and things that could potentially harm them. Though many don’t think twice about what they’re feeding ducks, I knew they deserved better. 

So, I decided to make my own duck food and sell it at Shell gas station, my dad’s store, which happens to be directly in front of a canal. The final verdict was: one cup of cracked corn, a half cup of rolled oats, and two tablespoons of dried mealworms. With the help of a brown paper bag and mini plastic bags for the mealworms, I had a product worth selling to customers. I put the bags in a wooden crate at the front counter of the store and wrote a sign saying, “Have fun, feed the ducks, $1.00 each!”  To my surprise, the feed bags attracted a lot of attention. Sales were popular among curious parents and eager kids. 

At first, there seemed to be no issues. The ducks were being fed healthy food, and many customers were excited. However, as time passed, the ducks became dependent on the food I was selling. They realized where it was coming from and started to flow onto my dad’s property, often making the premise crowded and difficult to park in since they occupied some of the parking spaces. Even more so, I witnessed the ducks begin to fight in the parking lot. 

Despite the bad behavior from certain ducks who became spoiled with healthy food, selling duck food has been a great experience. I’ve seen the joy in kids’ faces when purchasing a bag then running outside to feed the ducks. I’ve learned how to maintain a basic spreadsheet to keep track of all my expenses and profit and learned how to improve the diet of local ducks. 

I have been selling duck food at Shell for over six years now, with small gap periods of no production when school work gets heavy, and still receive customer requests when I sell out. Making duck food has become a hobby that connects me to my community. Overall, my endeavor produced positive results: the canal ducks have healthier food; community kids, parents and others have an entertaining and enlightening outdoor activity; and, after deducting expenses, I earned a few extra dollars to help fund other meaningful pursuits.