Angry birds

Melbourne, Fla., officials say out-of-control birds are running wild in one of the city’s parks.

Local ducks, geese, ibis, seagulls and other avian aggressors are beginning to lose their fear of people, workers and patrons of local businesses. The Associated Press reports the 30-acre Wells Park in Melbourne has become all but overrun, and officials trying to educate residents to the dangers of these animals.

Last week, city officials hung signs saying that feeding wildlife is prohibited in hopes of limiting contact between birds and park patrons, the Associated Press reports. But without the cooperation of residents, workers fear the unpleasant interactions will continue.

"I know that there's some people that will continue to do this regardless, because they've been doing this for years. A lot of them are elderly," Steve Graham, parks manager, told Florida Today.

Not even City Manager Mike McNees was safe. "Jogging through there by the fire station a couple days ago, three very attractive white geese went after me like it was D-Day," McNees recounted to the Melbourne City Council earlier this week, the paper reports.

"I'm not a little guy, and I had a lot of trouble scaring them off. For someone that might be a little less mobile, a little more intimidated, or a child that really can't fight back, it's a real problem," McNees added.

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