DUCKS and swans at a popular tourist attraction in Killarney are being put at real risk because people are ignoring appeals not to feed them with bread.
Signs have been erected at strategic locations close to Lough Leane at Ross Castle informing the public that bread is actually a danger to ducks and other birds that frequent the water.
Despite the warnings, local anglers and people out walking have observed families feeding bread to the birds up to several times a day and, when asked to desist, many people ignore the requests.
The warning signs at Ross Castle inform visitors that the read consumed can lead to a condition called angel wing which can cause feathers on the ducks and other water fowl to grow excessively and damage their muscles.
It can prevent them from flying and it puts them at rick from other animals that frequent the area.
Bread is equally lethal for the population of swans at Ross Castle as it can lead to a condition that impacts on their gut and it can cause heart disease.
Signs erected by the National Parks and Wildlife Service also point out that bread thrown in the water can also cause serious pollution when it rots.
The signs erected state that the bacteria it leads to can cause algal bloom which can be lethal for dogs, birds and other animals and it also causes the growth of a bacteria which attracts vermin to the area.
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