Muscovy keepers! Muscovy outlawed??

[farmin'chick]

Here is a notice I received from Carolina Waterfowl Rescue today --

The ducks need your help! Many of you are not aware that there is a
new law going into effect March 31st prohibiting ownership of Muscovy
ducks. You can read the full text of the law here.

http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CarolinaWaterfowlRes/8d36421d5c/a7c2f90098/ace0768026 http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CarolinaWaterfowlRes/8d36421d5c/a7c2f90098/ace0768026


Some Facts about the new law:
• Current pet ducks you own are grandfathered in but you will no
longer be able to give them away, sell them, adopt them to someone
else, or basically do anything but kill them.
• All protections are removed for the ducks and they have
basically issued a massive order to have the ducks eradicated
everywhere. They can be freely killed and they even issued the order
for the sterile hybrid offspring to be destroyed even though they are
incapable of reproducing.
• If you currently own Muscovy ducks and they leave your
property or reproduce they can take your ducks and kill them.
• This is a federal law and applies to every person in every
state in the entire United States.

This unfortunately also means we can no longer rescue Muscovy ducks.
We also can not adopt the Muscovy ducks we currently have after March
31st. If you previously adopted Muscovy Ducks from us you may contact
us to receive an adoption certificate that proves you owned the ducks
before the cutoff date.

*** The government is basically telling you what pets you can own and
what ducks we can rescue! ****

We have worked hard in the Charlotte areas to keep problem ducks under
control from parks, ponds and public places over the years. We are
upset that we can no longer provide these services to the community.
Instead of humane capture and placement in private homes we would now
have to slaughter the ducks. We are a no kill facility so this will
not be an option. Ducks will get now out of control because people
won’t want to see them killed either. This will create a conflict in
the community between animal lovers and those who deem birds a
nusiance.

There are many people who work hard to preserve long established
domestic breeds of Muscovy ducks. They are included as a breed
standard in the American Poultry Association. People raise them for
show, pets, insect control, meat and eggs. The law does allow people
to continue to eat the ducks but will not allow any of these other
activities.

We realize in some places they have a problem with the ducks. The
Fish and Wildlife service should take steps to resolve those problems
and not ignore them in lieu of a blanket rule penalizing the entire
USA of the right to own ducks.

Something that should be addressed is feed stores that are selling the
ducks. They are sold indiscriminately by anyone with an impulse and a
dollar bill. These are the ducks that get abandoned and cause
problems. This is the root of the feral duck problem! Responsible
rescuers, rehabilitators, pet owners and breeders are not the problem.


We must do what we can to voice our concerns over this new rule. If
you are interested in this issue please email us to be added to our
Muscovy update list. We will try and keep you informed as changes
occur. We have the best supporters and you have always been there
when we needed a hand in the past. We ask for your support again but
not for us this time for the ducks! I know you will take a few minutes
to stop and send a few emails or make a few calls.

Contact should be sent to US Fish and Wildlife Service as well as your
local, state and national law makers via the contact information
listed below. If you know of any news or media contacts please press
them to do a story on the rule so we can spread the word.

Please remember to always be polite and respectful when contacting
lawmakers.

There is a contact form on the US FW website you can utilize:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CarolinaWaterfowlRes/8d36421d5c/a7c2f90098/7f8a414986


A more effective method would a personal letter.
Mailing Address
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240

The US Department of the Interior oversees the Fish and Wildlife
Service

Mailing Address:
Mr. Ken Salazar
Secretary of the Interior
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington DC 20240

Phone: (202) 208-3100
E-Mail: [email protected]

Web: Feedback form on the web
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CarolinaWaterfowlRes/8d36421d5c/a7c2f90098/f580b0d23d


On facebook? Contact Secretary Salazar via his facebook page
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CarolinaWaterfowlRes/8d36421d5c/a7c2f90098/2d8f2d2b6a/v=wall


Here is a link to contact your state and federal lawmakers. If you are
not of North Carolina please use the organization website to find your local
lawmakers here
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CarolinaWat.../7b2715bc6c/pagename=electedOfficials_federal



Federal Officials

Barack Obama
President (D)
Web:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CarolinaWaterfowlRes/8d36421d5c/a7c2f90098/07d3c2902c


Email:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CarolinaWaterfowlRes/8d36421d5c/a7c2f90098/a08331531e


Phone: (202) 456-1111
Fax: (202) 456-2461
Address: The White House, 1st Floor,
West Wing
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20500


Joseph 'Joe' R. Biden Jr.
Vice President (D)
Web:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CarolinaWaterfowlRes/8d36421d5c/a7c2f90098/12d99b7afd


Email: [email protected]

Phone: (202) 456-7000
Fax: (202) 456-2461
Address: The White House, 1st Floor, West Wing
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20500


Michelle Obama
First Lady (D)

Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 456-1414
Fax: (202) 456-2461
Address: The White House, 1st Floor, West Wing
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20500


Richard M. Burr
US Senator for North Carolina (R)

Web:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CarolinaWaterfowlRes/8d36421d5c/a7c2f90098/807c810929

Email:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CarolinaWat...098/37e091ced8/FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm


Phone: (202) 224-3154
Fax: (202) 228-2981
Address: Russell Senate Office Building, Room 217
Constitution and Delaware Avenues, NE
Washington, District of Columbia 20510-3308


Kay R. Hagan
US Senator for North Carolina (D)

Web:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CarolinaWaterfowlRes/8d36421d5c/a7c2f90098/071ae46e41

Email:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CarolinaWaterfowlRes/8d36421d5c/a7c2f90098/dc135dce5b/p=contact

Phone: (202) 224-6342
Fax: (202) 228-2563
Address: Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 521
Constitution Avenue and 1st Street, NE
Washington, District of Columbia 20510


Sue Wilkins Myrick
US Representative for North Carolina district 9 (R)

Web:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CarolinaWaterfowlRes/8d36421d5c/a7c2f90098/03222fe35b

Email:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CarolinaWaterfowlRes/8d36421d5c/a7c2f90098/7751f66792

Phone: (202) 225-1976
Fax: (202) 225-3389
Address: Cannon House Office Building, Room 230
Independence Avenue and 1st Street, SE
Washington, District of Columbia 20515-3309


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[vfem]

Yes I received this too, last year when this was being mulled over to go into effect I listed a site where you could send them a letter of how you felt about it. (or email)

I sent a few, and a couple people told me that it was too late even last year to fight it. I'm very sad to see this. Just because you are grandfathered in, doesn't mean squat. You can't get more muscovies because you are grandfathered in, when they are gone they are gone!

I am not sure the exact wording of the law, but it is VERY real!

 

[Duck_feeder]

We have a 40+ page thread on this matter over here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=304055

Long story short, Dr George Allen (Chief of Permits and Regulations branch of the Division of Migratory Birds Management of the Fish and Wildlife Service) wrote the new regulations and has been in communication with several people (including BYC members) on modifying the the regulations.

Key individuals such as the current president of the APA are discussing possible compromises that would best address everyone's interest (including the people that want them banned).

 

[Duck_feeder]

Quote:
Never underestimate the power of civil discourse with the right individuals

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

I would also like to point out that this is NOT a federal law, but a Fish and Wildlife Regulation. Laws and Regulations are different from eachother.

 

[heymikey]

I'm sorry but the legalease is too much. I have chocolate muscovies. Is there something I should do now to prove I own them so I can be grandfathered? I don't have any paperwork or receipts that bought them years ago!

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
Yes get bands on their legs that can remain on the birds. Take photos of the birds with people so it is apparent that they are tame pets and not fural. If your camera will date stamp use it, otherwise get the pictures developed and notaryized before March 31, 2010. Basically muscovies are going to be treated Like Wood Ducks and Canada geese, You will need a permit to own them and another permit to sell or give them away. That is what the Final Rule that was just issued means. IF they can be convinced that they have messed up they may revert to a status like Mallards where there are regulations but they aren't enforced. If you have records of hatching or buying muscovies save them. Knowing how the government loves paperwork and fees I think you should plan on both in the future. The farther South you are the more likely it is that fural muskovies are a real problem and State and Local governments are more likely to try to enforce the rule. Food production is one of the exeptions so if you just keep them for pets decide if you are willing to lie about eating them in the long run. Free Ranging of unclipped Muscovies might be doomed because if they leave your property they may be shot.

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
Right BUT they are claiming That The Migatory Bird Act applies (they claim the same right for most other birds that have never thought of migrating) If you have ever dealt with the Feds, they claim that failing to follow regulations is the act that breaks the underlieing LAW and they mostly win their cases!

 

[DuckLady]

Please keep this to one topic to avoid confusion
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=304055