Clifford E. Lee Nature Sanctuary

The Clifford E Lee Nature Sanctuary was opened in 1980 to conserve habitat and the associated flora and fauna. The Sanctuary is owned by Ducks Unlimited and managed by a Volunteer management committee. All the funds to run and maintain the Sanctuary come from Donations. This area is not a federal, provincial, or municipal park and as such does not get funding for maintenance from these sources. We encourage people to come and enjoy our Sanctuary and its wildlife, but we expect you to treat it with respect and follow the rules that have been established. The rules are for the protection of the flora and fauna not to make it difficult for you to enjoy the area. Visitors need to consider the long-term effects of feeding wildlife and picking flowers and berries. Why we have posted the rules for no feeding of wildlife (this includes the ducks and small songbirds)

1) The animals lose their instinct to feed

2) Feeding often causes overpopulation as birds realize food is easy to get and then there is more competition and aggression among the animals

3) Malnutrition especially in ducks as they are eating junk food, this causes the ducklings to have growth problems

4) Disease- left over bits of food especially bread with duck feeding and left-over seeds go moldy and can cause birds to be come infected with diseases

5) Water pollution if too much food gets left behind and with ducks more poo will be produced from eating an unnatural diet. This causes the water to become polluted

6) Mixed seed left out has unusual species of plants that are not native to this area and are causing a w**d issue for our management committee

7) Pest attraction from food left around the sanctuary

8) Predator attraction also from food

Other considerations we would like you to follow:

1) No picking or digging up flowers or plants

2) No picking berries, wildlife need these to survive winter and to bulk up for migration

3) Staying on the designated trails

4) Take out what you bring in we pay for garbage disposal

Ducks Unlimited the owner of this private sanctuary does not recommend feeding ducks. It increases the chances of negative human/wildlife encounters and can make them dependent on people for food. Ducks and geese are well equipped to find food in a variety of habitats

Please help us keep this sanctuary natural and healthy by following the rules we have posted

The Clifford E. Lee Nature Sanctuary Management Committee