Dumping ducks, any laws against it?

[needlessjunk]

I never knew that there were domestic ducks and wild ducks until I started doing research. I now know how horrible it is to just dump them at the local ponds and I'm surprised at how many there are at one near by that are domestic breeds! The whole population is pretty much made up of domestic breeds. Anyway I'm trying to educate people and I was wondering if there are any laws that prohibit the dumping of domestic ducks. I'm getting push back from my mom who views golf courses and cemeteries with ponds as safe and not wild. I also just found out that she released 3 geese to a local cemetery when I was a baby and they lived their for years because we would go back each week to feed them bread. She feels since they lived others would too.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I never knew that there were domestic ducks and wild ducks until I started doing research. I now know how horrible it is to just dump them at the local ponds and I'm surprised at how many there are at one near by that are domestic breeds! The whole population is pretty much made up of domestic breeds. Anyway I'm trying to educate people and I was wondering if there are any laws that prohibit the dumping of domestic ducks. I'm getting push back from my mom who views golf courses and cemeteries with ponds as safe and not wild. I also just found out that she released 3 geese to a local cemetery when I was a baby and they lived their for years because we would go back each week to feed them bread. She feels since they lived others would too.

Expecting domestic water fowl to be able to fend for themselves is a myth, most that have been raised by humans and Depend on us to feed and care for them have no idea how to do this on their own. But it does make the dumptee feel better about dumping, I know of no specific laws but I would think if a grounds keeper was to come up to someone who was in the process of dumping their unwanted ducks or geese or rabbits etc. they may get in serious trouble. Talk to those who frequent lakes ponds etc where the public bring junk food to feed the wild ducks and geese and most don't know wild from domestic and you will see un healthy birds, some with angel wing which is pretty much probably a killer for a wild ducks or goose to have since they can't migrate with their flocks. Then when lakes and city parks ponds get over populated with dumped water fowl they may do what Ocala Did some years ago and kill all the Muscovy's that were in their parks pond. Maybe even the other domestics too. Feeding bread maybe fun to those feeding it but it is not a good diet for the birds. and most have to live off off that kind of food plus all the other junk food thrown at them because most likely any natural food has vanished with so many water fowl going after it. Then you have the domestics and wild pop breeding which isn't good either. What your mom did was in ignorance [ands i'm not saying she is ignorant] I'm saying it's such an accepted way that most would say it's okay to dump a duck or goose once they tire of it or can't give it the kind of care it needs. To me it's no different than taking a cat or dog off on some lonely road and dumping it out.

 

[dotporter]

Ya, what Miss Lydia said. I just meant that before calling the DNR or anything, not all domestic birds at local ponds are drop offs. They may actually be owned and cared for. Especially those at cemeteries and golf courses. However, I do disagree with such places using domestic ducks as ornaments, especially here in Michigan where minimal care and harsh winters are a death sentence for many of those birds.

 

[needlessjunk]

I'm all with y'all that it is totally irresponsible to think that way. But if one person, my mom for example, thinks that then she is not the only one. The ones she dumped off happened over 28 years ago but there is still that mentality. I was wondering if there is any legal action to use to help sway people that it isn't okay to just dump ducks and "let them live" could get them fined or whatnot.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'm all with y'all that it is totally irresponsible to think that way. But if one person, my mom for example, thinks that then she is not the only one. The ones she dumped off happened over 28 years ago but there is still that mentality. I was wondering if there is any legal action to use to help sway people that it isn't okay to just dump ducks and "let them live" could get them fined or whatnot.

I'd check into your states laws or city or town ordinances
About 2 years ago the paper in the largest city to us did an article about a young girl and her family who every Easter they would buy her a duckling and then once they got around 6 months old they would take them to the river and let them go. I was appalled that they would make it sound so natural. They had done this many years and then they said that she is now in high school and hasn't time to spend with her duck she has now a Indian Runner and they were thinking of taking it to the local pond. I sure hope someone who lived there jumped on them about this outrageous thing they were going to do.I am sure there are many who would have adopted that duck.

Amiga encouraged us the last 2 years to write to our local paper during Easter season and ask people to please be more responsible about buying animals and giving them as Easter gifts to think about if they are ready for a long term commitment that it takes when buying an animal whether a duck/goose or bunny I wrote a letter to our editor and was grateful that she emailed me back and thanked me for writing it.

Maybe you'll have an impact on others your mom included and can make a difference. There is a member on here named Kalisti who has formed a group who works with the city council where she lives to make life better for the waterfowl that live in the lake there. Many domestic.

 

[Amiga]

Hi, y'all, here is the letter I wrote in 2012. Feel free to lift anything from it that you feel will help. I am finding that while I feel awful things at the thought of dumping, that human beings respond to someone they feel understands them, and cares for them. And then there are some folks who are just so obstinate!

So take the approach that you know in your heart is right for you and your situation. Reminding people before the fact may be more effective. At least that is my feeling. Okay - on to the letter!

Suggested title: Don’t Dump Them!

Spring is coming! And among the dreams and temptations, perhaps more for those with children, will come the appeal of precious little chicks and ducklings and bunnies (a.k.a. kits).

I simply want to ask everyone to decide against getting any of these little critters if your plan is to release them to public fields, ponds or forests when they are grown, when you become overwhelmed with their care, the family tires of them, or they aren’t cute anymore.

Releasing pets is cruel, whether that is the intention or not. Those who try to help such released former pets use different words – abandonment or dumping.

Domestic animals are not equipped to protect or feed themselves. Sometimes they die quickly when they fall prey to other animals. Sometimes they slowly starve or freeze to death. Sometimes they die in agony from the infections that arise from injury or disease. It is awful to even contemplate.

If you want to have some of these small animals as pets, for their sake and yours, do a little homework before you take them home. Be sure you can handle their care, from the day they arrive through their adult lives. There are resources online, in print, and in the form of local individuals and organizations experienced with animal care.

Another option is to adopt rescued animals. They were raised as pets and then dumped. They could surely use a decent home where they are well cared for.

Springtime, for many, is a season for celebrating new life, redemption, and care for one another. Please don’t bring home any cute little fuzzy, feathered, furry “babies” only to abandon them to a cruel fate. That’s not what this season is about.

 

[needlessjunk]

Ducks are not though right? lol

lol!

Hi, y'all, here is the letter I wrote in 2012.  Feel free to lift anything from it that you feel will help.  I am finding that while I feel awful things at the thought of dumping, that human beings respond to someone they feel understands them, and cares for them.  And then there are some folks who are just so obstinate!    So take the approach that you know in your heart is right for you and your situation.  Reminding people before the fact may be more effective.  At least that is my feeling.  Okay - on to the letter!

Suggested title:  Don’t Dump Them!

Spring is coming!  And among the dreams and temptations, perhaps more for those with children, will come the appeal of precious little chicks and ducklings and bunnies (a.k.a. kits).

I simply want to ask everyone to decide against getting any of these little critters if your plan is to release them to public fields, ponds or forests when they are grown, when you become overwhelmed with their care, the family tires of them, or they aren’t cute anymore.

Releasing pets is cruel, whether that is the intention or not.  Those who try to help such released former pets use different words – abandonment or dumping.

Domestic animals are not equipped to protect or feed themselves.  Sometimes they die quickly when they fall prey to other animals.  Sometimes they slowly starve or freeze to death.  Sometimes they die in agony from the infections that arise from injury or disease.  It is awful to even contemplate.

If you want to have some of these small animals as pets, for their sake and yours, do a little homework before you take them home.  Be sure you can handle their care, from the day they arrive through their adult lives.  There are resources online, in print, and in the form of local individuals and organizations experienced with animal care.

Another option is to adopt rescued animals.  They were raised as pets and then dumped.  They could surely use a decent home where they are well cared for.

Springtime, for many, is a season for celebrating new life, redemption, and care for one another.  Please don’t bring home any cute little fuzzy, feathered, furry “babies” only to abandon them to a cruel fate.  That’s not what this season is about.

Than you for sharing that. I know my feed stores also have bulletins and I think come spring I will post on there to some rescue groups. My hope is that someone will see it when the came back to buy food and realize that there are resources other than releasing them in the local ponds.

 

[Amykins]

It's a terrible thing to be selling for that purpose, anyway. :/ I think adding rescue posters is wonderful, it gives people an option...although I certainly hope it doesn't backfire and entice MORE idiots to buy "disposable ducklings" thinking they have an easy out.

 

[desertdarlene]

Awww, yes, most places have laws against domestic animal abandonment, but it's rarely enforced. I've even had workers at some of the places I've gone to who can't tell the difference between a wild and domestic duck. Granted, some places do buy ornamental waterfowl, but usually they care for those birds. I know one lake where ducks and geese are frequently dumped where the staff keeps an eye on them. So, I would check to see if someone is doing that. Or, you can volunteer to keep an eye on them sometimes or provide some feed and medical care.

 

[dotporter]

Actually, golf courses and cemeteries often stock domestic breeds intentionally for the aesthetic appeal they provide. Many times the groundskeeper is tasked with general care of these birds, so you might want to check.