Hi - I'm a chicken owner now, but a few years ago I was a duck owner with 11 pet ducks... so I have a special place in my heart for ducks. When I ran across this story on our local online news website and thought it was very very sad and wanted to share. It's such a shame they can't find another solution for these poor birds
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http://www.wftv.com/news/19405318/detail.html
City Plans To Kill Over 200 Ducks In Park
Posted: 9:38 am EDT May 8, 2009
Updated: 6:14 pm EDT May 8, 2009
OCALA, Fla. -- Children love to feed the ducks in an Ocala neighborhood park, but the city wants the ducks dead. They call the Muscovy ducks a nuisance and there are more than 200 of them in Tuskawilla Park in Ocala.
Families told Eyewitness News that killing the ducks is just cruel.
The ducks of Tuskawilla Park may seem harmless enough, but city officials say their population has gotten completely out of control; the only thing legally that can be done is euthanization.
Young kids like Cody Bland are fascinated by the Muscovy ducks in the downtown Ocala park, but soon, the city says, most of them will be gone, euthanized in an effort to get rid of them.
"I was horrified that they would just kill the duck," parent Denise Bland told Eyewitness News. "There has got to be some other solution than just euthanasia."
But the city and the state agree that killing the ducks is about the only solution. Parks officials say they are contaminating the lakes and many are sick or injured.
"Florida is unfortunately inundated with non-native species, both plants and wildlife," said Joy Hill, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.
That is a key issue. Florida law protects native species, but restricts the release of non-native species. The Muscovy ducks are native to South America, so they cannot be relocated to the wild locally and officials say they are competing with native ducks and there are few of them at the park.
The euthanization would most likely be handled by the Department of Agriculture using a humane method like a lethal injection. Park regulars said the city should leave the ducks alone.
"No, I don't think they should get rid of them. Too many people come down here and enjoy the park with the ducks," parkgoer Barbara Nagle said.
Little Cody's mom hopes it's not to late too save them.
"I think they'll probably come to their senses and maybe try to find another alternative that will maybe save the ducks," Denise Bland said.
The duck eradication won't be a permanent solution, because there are mother ducks in their nests waiting for ducklings to hatch. So it is likely that the process have to be repeated.
http://www.wftv.com/news/19405318/detail.html
City Plans To Kill Over 200 Ducks In Park
Posted: 9:38 am EDT May 8, 2009
Updated: 6:14 pm EDT May 8, 2009
OCALA, Fla. -- Children love to feed the ducks in an Ocala neighborhood park, but the city wants the ducks dead. They call the Muscovy ducks a nuisance and there are more than 200 of them in Tuskawilla Park in Ocala.
Families told Eyewitness News that killing the ducks is just cruel.
The ducks of Tuskawilla Park may seem harmless enough, but city officials say their population has gotten completely out of control; the only thing legally that can be done is euthanization.
Young kids like Cody Bland are fascinated by the Muscovy ducks in the downtown Ocala park, but soon, the city says, most of them will be gone, euthanized in an effort to get rid of them.
"I was horrified that they would just kill the duck," parent Denise Bland told Eyewitness News. "There has got to be some other solution than just euthanasia."
But the city and the state agree that killing the ducks is about the only solution. Parks officials say they are contaminating the lakes and many are sick or injured.
"Florida is unfortunately inundated with non-native species, both plants and wildlife," said Joy Hill, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.
That is a key issue. Florida law protects native species, but restricts the release of non-native species. The Muscovy ducks are native to South America, so they cannot be relocated to the wild locally and officials say they are competing with native ducks and there are few of them at the park.
The euthanization would most likely be handled by the Department of Agriculture using a humane method like a lethal injection. Park regulars said the city should leave the ducks alone.
"No, I don't think they should get rid of them. Too many people come down here and enjoy the park with the ducks," parkgoer Barbara Nagle said.
Little Cody's mom hopes it's not to late too save them.
"I think they'll probably come to their senses and maybe try to find another alternative that will maybe save the ducks," Denise Bland said.
The duck eradication won't be a permanent solution, because there are mother ducks in their nests waiting for ducklings to hatch. So it is likely that the process have to be repeated.
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