City implements 'no-feeding' policy for swans at Lake Eola

Credit: Shutterstock

The city of Orlando is no longer allowing the public to feed swans at Lake Eola, with city staff citing the importance of safeguarding animal health and “supporting the natural diet of the species in our care.”

The city has implemented a “no feeding” policy as of March 18, and has posted signs throughout the downtown Orlando park to inform visitors of the rules. According to city spokesperson Ashley Papagni, the swans will continue to be fed through floating feeders. But the coin-operated public feeders placed throughout the park more than a decade ago will be retired “to reduce the number of birds that congregate and could potentially spread the flu.”

“The city’s Families, Parks and Recreation Department is in the process of developing updated procedures and protocols for the continued care of the swans,” Papagni told Orlando Weekly over email. “To ensure this plan is as robust as possible, the FPR team is reviewing all city protocols and evaluating best practices from other cities and wildlife organizations.”

The city is currently in damage-control mode following the death of more than two dozen Lake Eola swans due to an avian flu outbreak in January. According to the city, it’s been roughly two months since the last swan death, so they expect the outbreak is finally over.

Still, local advocates urged the city to review and reevaluate its current policies for caring for the swans, each of which cost the city hundreds to thousands of dollars to stock at the popular park.

Feeding wildlife, including swans and geese, is generally discouraged by animal welfare experts. The swan feeders were first installed at Lake Eola in 2012 to help discourage the public (including charmed, well-meaning tourists) from feeding swans other food that could make them sick.

“We want to encourage people to feed them the right stuff, so that’s what we are doing today with the feeders,” District 4 city commissioner Patty Sheehan, a fierce defender of the city’s swans, said at the time. “And if you don’t want to use the feeders, bring a head of lettuce.”

The new signs posted at Lake Eola, printed in both English and Spanish, urge the public not to feed wildlife at the park, including swans, at all. To “protect wildlife and keep birds healthy,” the signs ask the public instead to “avoid close contact with birds” and “enjoy wildlife from a distance.”

A man was once arrested for accidentally kicking swans at the park while practicing karate, so maybe be mindful of just how much distance you’re providing, too. Same guidance goes for bike cops, who learned the hard way a decade ago that swans aren’t their biggest fans.

According to Papagni, the city’s parks department “is in the process” of drafting a proposal for the continued care of the city’s swans that will be presented to city leadership “in the coming weeks.”

Subscribe to Orlando Weekly newsletters.

City implements ‘no-feeding’ policy for swans at Lake Eola

Tags: