At the city’s council meeting last month, City Administrator Nathan Crane said people were dumping ducks at Highland Glen Park, and the increasing number of birds combined with the low water level in the ponds is creating toxic water conditions. Many bodies of water across the state can also experience water quality issues from low water levels.

Here’s the trouble: Officials reportedly have to remove and euthanize ducks and geese from this park up to two times a year. Most ducks and geese are domestic animals, and they can’t survive in the wild. It’s also illegal under Utah law to do this with any “companion” animal.

Amy Needham with Puddle Ducks Rescue said Brigham Young University had the same problem on its campus — until people put some signs up.

“Most folks think they’re just wild birds. they can fly away, and this is not the case,” said Needham told the Highland City Council in February. “I have seen many die from fishing injuries, human cruelty, and starvation in the winter, since they can’t fly away like other animals.”

Needham claims she personally removed more than 40 of the abandoned animals last year.