"Danger: Thin Ice"

Dangers to waterfowl in winter:  Frozen lakes, lowered food supplies, freezing temperatures -- and off leash dogs.

The signs are posted around all lakes and ponds of Central Park in winter:

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"Danger: Thin Ice."

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Despite that, there are too many dog owners who think it cute or funny when their dogs "chase the birds" on ice.

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What inevitably follows however are news stories of the dogs falling through ice and in this particular case, the owner attempting to rescue her pet and both having to be rescued out of frigid water.

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http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/dog-walker-relives-moment-fell-central-park-ice-article-1.1593035

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(Regarding the story above, I personally don't buy the woman's story of a "frozen" leash buckle resulting in the dog getting away from her. Presumably, she has to offer some excuse for her dog being off leash at 10AM -- a time dogs are supposed to be leashed.)

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I have, in the past, personally warned dog owners of this danger and in one case was told by a man that if his dog fell through ice, he would "simply call 911" -- as if emergency workers have nothing better to do.

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Past stories on this blog of waterfowl attacks by off leash dogs allowed in park lakes have documented several duck injuries and in two cases, death of a mallard and a goose.  

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It is easy to know these irresponsible actions by some dog owners still occur at Harlem Meer (site of latest dog-falling-through-ice incident) simply by observing the extremely nervous, jumpy behavior of the ducks (and presently one goose) every time someone passes by with a dog -- including well behaved dogs on leashes.

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The birds immediately bolt or fly to the middle of the lake in what appears sheer panic. (Of course some of this extreme behavior might be attributable to Geese Police which for nearly a year, uses dogs to harass any geese at Harlem Meer and other Central Park lakes and ponds.)

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This is in fact how I know the loner goose ("Bandy"), presently at Harlem Meer can fly (something one normally questions when noting a Canada goose failing to fly out with her flock). She and all the mallards flew as if shot out of a cannon last night when a man walked by with a leashed dog more than 50 feet away.

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Considering the immense challenges to all wildlife and birds of this particularly bitter winter in New York, that there are still people who think its "cute" or acceptable that their dogs harass and add to the stresses of these animals is disgusting to say the least.

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Call me callous, but while feeling some sympathy for the dogs who, with general encouragement from owners, become ultimate victims of their aggressions against waterfowl, I feel no sympathy at all for the humans.

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The wildlife of our parks does not exist for the self-entitlement abuse of some dog owners and their dogs anymore than emergency services exist solely for their rescue when failing to heed important warnings.  -- PCA

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