Pet ducks released on my lake

[Coggsinc]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I’m going to keep an eye on them for now and try and get them to warm up to my presence while I see if there are any place they could be rehomed. I just went out to check on them and the were hiding from the lake otters up in the neighbors yard. I hadn’t seen the otters in a long time but I guess they’re still around. They are small Florida lake otters so hopefully they won’t hunt the ducks.

 

[GranderTheGander]

Have the otters ever gone after the wild ducks?

 

[Coggsinc]

Have the otters ever gone after the wild ducks?

I have never noticed that they have killed a grown duck but I suspect they are responsible for some of the ducklings that go missing every year. We have a ton of Mallards and Wood ducks so they don't seem to be doing a lot of population control. I grew up on another lake in the neighborhood, we always had otters and always assumed they ate the ducklings but I never thought they'd go after grown ducks but they probably could kill them. The sure seemed to be interested in the ducks and they ducks were clearly worried. They moved another yard over now but I still have eyes on them and they are still up out of the water.

 

[GranderTheGander]

Everything eats poor ducklings! I hope the otters just don't like ducks, as opposed to not being able to catch them. I know nothing about otters and have only seen one in my entire life. It was after either a hurricane or a northeaster and I was walking the beach, when an otter came out of the bay, looked around, and went back in the bay. It obviously realized it was in the wrong location.

 

[Coggsinc]

I know growing up on a lake I learned a long time ago not to get to attached to the dozen baby ducks following mama around. Last year the owls we just the worst at trying to catch them. Thankfully the angry little Red Wing Black birds do their part to chase them away.
Our otters aren't as big as ocean or river otters but I'm sure they could get them if they wanted to. They're basically water weasels. Super cute in their own right but predators.

 

[GranderTheGander]

Oh, I think think they are so cute and funny. Ferrets remind me of otters.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I think I’d try super hard to find a rescue or farm rescue that might take them in.

 

[Tomatotux]

We have a small group that were released here, 2 Pekins (Drake and a Hen). Some of the local ducks have joined their little flock and they have even bred and the hen from the mallard and the pekin is part of the flock. According to neighbors, they've been there for years, and there were originally more, but they have died off and disappeared. We have some predators in the area (eagles, coons, coyotes) but the ducks seem to be ok even being domesticated and unable to fly. Trapping and rehoming is a great option, but they are animals and if they are doing ok, leave them be is my perspective. My flock has been buddying up to the locals, and now I have to stop it because they aren't wanting to come home in the evenings (we raise them as pets and for eggs) but the locals are well loved by almost everyone around the lake. If you want them to hang around, keep some healthy tasty ducky snacks around and feed them. Ducks can be trained with sounds so consider that?

Happy ducking!

 

[thumper650]

I agree bread is bad, but I would use it if you want to trap them. I tried to help a duck with a fishing lure in his mouth. Never was able to catch him though. I brought the ducks mealworms, peas and other healthy snacks. They didn’t eat it because they had no idea what it was.

 

[BelovedBirds]

Why trap them? Leave them alone, sounds like they're happy there?
Corn, peas, sunflower seeds are all good pretty cheap duck treats.
They love mealworms, but those get pricey.

odd definition of happy. They're vulnerable to predators, disease and dont know how to survive in the wild.
They won't last that long, it would 100% be better to catch them and find a suitable home, or at the very least to feed them and provide shelter.