Mama Mallard Depressed

[bev3262]

I joined this forum today because I am at a loss as to what may have happened to some baby Mallards that were just born.
We have alot of wildlife around where I work and our resident female Mallard has raised many a brood here over the years.
This morning she was wondering around quacking like crazy in the parking lot, and I went over to check where she usually nests, and there were all of her babies, laying with their heads ripped off. It was a grusome sight and I literally cried for hrs and cant get it out of my head.
Mama just lays be her nest, not moving.

We called the zoo, and they told us to remove all the dead babies and egg shells, so we did that, but she is just laying there.

Can we help her anymore?
What do you think could have happened to those babies?


Heartsick in Kentucky
Bev

 

[Miss Lydia]

I joined this forum today because I am at a loss as to what may have happened to some baby Mallards that were just born.
We have alot of wildlife around where I work and our resident female Mallard has raised many a brood here over the years.
This morning she was wondering around quacking like crazy in the parking lot, and I went over to check where she usually nests, and there were all of her babies, laying with their heads ripped off. It was a grusome sight and I literally cried for hrs and cant get it out of my head.
Mama just lays be her nest, not moving.

We called the zoo, and they told us to remove all the dead babies and egg shells, so we did that, but she is just laying there.

Can we help her anymore?
What do you think could have happened to those babies?


Heartsick in Kentucky
Bev

That has to be so upsetting for you and especially for the mama mallard. Mink's weasels and other preds will rip heads off of ducklings ?ducks, mama probably had to abandon her nest by flying away when the pred which are relentless wouldn't back down. I'm sure she probably tried to fend him off till the last minute. It will take time for her to get over it. So very sorry.

 

[Luminide]

Oh dear...that's horrible. >< I've never heard of something like that happening. My first thought in regards to helping her would be buying her a pair of ducklings to take care of or placing some new eggs in her nest, but if this predator is still around, I'd be terribly worried about it happening again.

If she's a wild bird, I don't know of much more you could legally do...Placing a bowl of water and food near her may help somewhat, as it sounds like she's too heartbroken to forage. Are there any other ducks in the area? Does she have company of any kind?