Donald!!! - Gone without a trace…

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Sad news out of WV: Yesterday evening Donald, my large drake, and Nona (short for NoName) came to our porch to pick up the last meal-worms for the day.
This morning i noticed that no duck was outside and blamed the freezing temperatures. By the time i was able to look after them i found only four, huddled together in their house and peeping in fear. Donald was nowhere to be found. I have searched all my property around the house but could not find any trace of him or any trace of a crime. There is no blood anywhere, no feathers or signs of a fight, he is just gone!
I am baffled and confused! What could have taken a 3-4Kg drake without leaving a trace?

 

[Raenh]

I hope you find him

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Any of your large carnivores could have taken the duck. I see you have everything from coyotes to bears. They would have taken the animal whole and left with it.

 

[Farmgal101]

I wish you luck!hope you find him!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I hope you find him

Thank you very much, but i have very little hope, searched for more than two hours…

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Any of your large carnivores could have taken the duck. I see you have everything from coyotes to bears. They would have taken the animal whole and left with it.

My assumption is a bird of prey: Donald and Nona were the only two of my ducks who were permanently roaming outside together and legged predator would have taken them both - i assume…

 

[Raenh]

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

My assumption is a bird of prey: Donald and Nona were the only two of my ducks who were permanently roaming outside together and legged predator would have taken them both - i assume…

The bird of prey would have left noticeable trace of the attack. Feathers would have been very visible. Most birds of prey will feast at the kill site of a duck as they are large.

 

[Cayuga momma]

Oh no! I am so sorry

 

[Kessel23]

Like @A_Fowl_Guy said, it's not a bird of prey. A large or medium sized predator can take a duck without leaving a trace. It was probably a fox, they are very active hunters day and night and cache their food. They will carry off birds before they even worry about killing them.