Muscovies in US - REGULATION CHANGES OPEN FOR COMMENTS - 10/1 update

[Cottage Rose]

Quote:
Duck Feeder... I wholeheartedly agree with you!
I applaud you for your activism in the situation and the great lengths you've gone to in providing sound advise and contact names and numbers. THANK YOU!

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

It was 1978 when I got my first Muscovy (was told they were Muskogee). Dan and Ann and can't recall the other gal's name. He was colored, as was Ann. The other was white. I was about 14. Have had them off and on since. Currently have non, but am tryuing to locate some asap. Always found them to be gentle and productive.

We must all fight this within the system. What will they come after next?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I, too heartily agree with amending the regulation, not scoffing at it, for all the reasons stated. The regulations have a good intent, and are authorized by law, that WAS passed (and has been amended several times) through the proper course of Congress and presidential signature. The penalties for breaking htis law are SEVERE. Folks, there is jail time and fines of 5 figures!

There are parts of the country that DO have a problem with wild muscovies; this SHOULD be addressed. However, there are also many parts of the country that DO NOT have problems.

 

[keeperofthehearth]

Cottage Rose
Today 9:59 amDuck_feeder wrote:
I updated the original post with information on why the new regulations were created.

Also, many people are talking about how they will just ignore the law or try to create loopholes instead of working to have the regulations changed. That is the WORST thing you can possibly do to preserve your rights to own muscovy ducks.

Frankly, I consider that to be the lazy and immature route (my opinion and I'm not ashamed to share it. If you want to argue that point with me, feel free to message me or start a thread in the appropriate forum on BYC - let's keep this thread on topic). Rather than spending a few minutes of your time to go through the established legal channels, you're actively suggesting that others simply scoff the law. Scoffing the law has it's place in civil disobedience as a means to enact change or preserve rights, but that should always be done after all other avenues have been exhausted. Bypassing any attempts to work things out in a rational and organized manner only sabotages any long term rights.

1. Changing the regulations requires evidence that a substantial number of citizens are impacted. Remaining quiet and letting others do the work gives the authorities the impression that there are not as many muscovy owners as we claim. I don't even have muscovies or have any intention of owning any, but I'm still doing my part to have this regulation changed by helping inform others and organizing the information.

2. Make no mistake, someone from FWS has probably already read most if not all of this thread. If they see a bunch of people that aren't interested in going through the appropriate channels to change the regulations because they plan on just ignoring them, what incentive do they have to try to change the regulation in a very short time span for people that don't care whether or not the regulation exists?

3. Planning to ignore the law is the same as speeding when driving. You can get away with it most of the time, but if you get caught there's nothing you can do about it. You're at the mercy of the authority that caught you.

Duck Feeder... I wholeheartedly agree with you!
I applaud you for your activism in the situation and the great lengths you've gone to in providing sound advise and contact names and numbers. THANK YOU!

jimsfarmstand
Today 10:17 amIt was 1978 when I got my first Muscovy (was told they were Muskogee). Dan and Ann and can't recall the other gal's name. He was colored, as was Ann. The other was white. I was about 14. Have had them off and on since. Currently have non, but am tryuing to locate some asap. Always found them to be gentle and productive.

We must all fight this within the system. What will they come after next?

my Thanks also for all of you who are taking an ACTIVE role in your attempts to get this Reg. changed before we lose all our rights to our Scovies.
I have to admit that I'm definitly out of my comfort zone with this.... but now is NOT the time to quit.​

 

[houndit]

Quote:
Very well said! Thank you Duck Feeder!

 

[farmgirlie1031]

Scovies are popular around here. I sure hope this does not pass. There are several people around here that raise them to sale them for meat, eggs, and pets. This will hurt a lot of folks.

 

[Dances with Ducks]

This is my letter, open to critique. I put this here because I want to offer a choice of templates for letters for those who still need to write them and also to continue discussing what remediation of invasive species concerns we should offer.

I am contacting you in regards to the recent regulation by the Fish and Wildlife Service (CFR 21.54) regarding Muscovy Ducks. This regulation creates dismaying legal and policy issues. There have been people raising Muscovy for personal use for generations, and there are a fair number of breeders for whom the Muscovy is a substantial part of their business. As the regulation is written the breeders they will suddenly be devastated unless they are selling only to properly permitted agribusinesses. Many unique strains and colors of the Muscovy have been developed by fanciers of this breed and have been included in large poultry shows for decades. This wonderful part of our American culture will be lost. Keeping livestock requires regularly bringing in new bloodlines to keep inbreeding from damaging the lines, breeders need to be able to freely purchase, choose and cull in order to maintain good breeding stock.
The situation this new regulation suddenly presents to tens of thousands of people with an interest in the Muscovy duck is astounding! Private owners will be denied the opportunity as they have enjoyed for many years to be able to take advantage of the unique characteristics of this breed. The growing urban farming movement is quickly realizing the benefit of the Muscovy’s unusually quiet nature. Muscovy have a particular value in incubating other breeds of waterfowl as they can incubate as many as three clutches a year, many people utilize them for this quality alone. Their exceptionally ability to eradicate mosquitoes is highly appreciated. They are fine egg layers with a unique protein type needed by many individuals with allergy issues. Because they are considered to be the best meat duck by far, it is very important that people should be continued the right to raise them for their own food purposes. The many overall useful qualities of this duck create a strongly unique value to a small farmer.
Addressing feral invasive populations is and should be within the purview of the Fish and Wildlife Service. Addressing domestic populations should absolutely not be the concern of FWS. What is an invasive in one place is not necessarily in another. Regulate release into the wild in areas where they are invasive, not maintaining them in home flocks. Domestically bred Muscovy will not survive in climates with colder winters without help from humans. Regulations restricting ownership in these regions of the country are not reasonable.
In order to mitigate the invasive species concerns regarding the Muscovy duck and yet retain the property rights of American citizens, I adamantly request that the regulations be rewritten in a manner that will require that purchasers sign a dated statement acknowledging that release into the wild is prohibited; that doing so can result in considerable penalties. Also included in the rewritten regulation should be a requirement that states with invasive feral populations must institute a Muscovy hunting season as they can with other species of birds. Considering the enormous and unprecedented impact upon private livestock ownership, restrictions on purchase or ownership of Muscovy duck beyond these areas are beyond the reasonable purview of FWS.

 

[Duck_feeder]

I've added this to the first post so it doesn't get lost in the myriad of posts.

Quote:

 

[Duck_feeder]

For everyone that has contacted the various authorities over the past few days - please message me a summary of who you contacted and what you've been told. I would pull this information from the thread, but I'm quite pressed for time due to work (I didn't get a chance to check the thread for a few days). I will add it to the first post in order to keep all the information organized.

I'm willing to host this information on my own website (indoorducks.com) in addition to BYC if anybody is more comfortable referencing a web page instead of a forum when spreading the word. Please let me know (reply in this thread) if anybody wants that.

 

[savingdogs]

I think I'm speaking for a lot of folks if I say we are researching this thread to find out how to keep our activities legal! It sure seems excessive when the government tells you what kind of duck you can raise in your backyard. There should be a way for them to make a clause for pet duck owners and raising them for private use and also be sensitive to the fact that they cannot be released to the wild. There should be a win-win here somewhere.