Heron ate our ducklings..

[melissap]

We had a mallard hatch out 4 babies yesterday and she took them to the pond right away. A heron landed later that day and she returned home alone. We can only assume the heron ate all 4 ducklings. We are heartbroken..

 

[Kevin565]

So sorry for your loss

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am so sorry, I know desert darlene has posted alot about herons eating baby duckling at the lake she goes to. Thats so sad.

another thing you may want to check out is if you have snapping turtles in your pond, they will eat ducklings too. seems 4 ducklings would be way too much for a heron to eat in one sitting.

 

[sourland]

I'm with Miss Lydia. It may have been the heron, but snapping turtles are the more likely culprits. Sorry for your loss.

 

[QuackerJackFarms]

x3 on the snapping turtles.

 

[EggLuver]

If there are any bass or catfish in the pond, they have also been known to take a duckling. Bass more than catfish but they are both predators.

 

[desertdarlene]

Herons do eat ducklings, but I have never seen them eat more than one or two at a time. But, they could eat four in a day if there were no hiding places or the lake is small. At our lake, this year, gulls ate a lot of them, too. Bass will also eat them as do turtles, especially if the lake is small. Also, some mothers are better than others, but they can learn. Next time, she may be a little smarter about whatever took those ducklings and there will be a better chance they will survive.