Releasing Mallard ducks when they gain flight feathers

[DuckLover9138]

Quote:
You can own domestically hatched mallard since many hatcheries sell the wild phenotype. You can also release them if you choose. It is completely legal. Lets get that point across before making any more confusing and intimidating statements. You can't release domestic ducks in many states, but you can release domestically hatched wild ducks. It is one thing to talk about morals and ethics and another to spam information on boards confusing other people.

Source: http://www.alabamawaterfowl.org/bandreport/5%20yr%20band%20study.htm

Concerning Mallards:

In the United States, it is not against the law to release ducks on private ponds, most city parks, or most lakes and streams in the U.S. So the migrating waterfowl encounter released birds all over the country.

Edit: Of course, the exception is Florida where the native duck species is about to be extinct.

 

[Speceider]

Actually, in Louisiana it is against State law to release any captive animal into the wild. Even if we capture a wild animal and bring it into captivity for research, we cannot release it after the experiment. The only exceptions I am aware of if you have a game farm and the birds are being released for "immediate" harvest.

Clint

 

[DuckLover179]

ducklover1 wasn't spamming, he was trying to inform you, so you don't do anything illegal...

 

[DuckLover9138]

I will gladly take his advice and I will be very gracious for his help if he had sources that specifically stated the illegality of releasing mallards under any conditions. If this is true, I will be very surprised and thankful for his advice. I think you need to read your state's law before commenting. I haven't released them, but I have the right to if I chooses. My state doesn't even have any laws on releasing ducks in general. Even the states that do have it, it concerns domestic duck. Mallards are wild ducks regardless if they are hatched in the wild or raised in a hatchery. There is a difference between mallards and ducks domesticated by human. If you look at your state's record for hunting, you will find domestic mallards on the list. Or you can look at any park and see mallards that were domestically hatched. (They are the ones that are friendlier to people.) I think people are confusing the nature of wild and domestic ducks.

If anything, I can always give it back to the friend who originally owned them. If you actually read the source and posted real sources, you might be more helpful.

 

[DuckLover179]

I did read the original post. Yes, you do have the right to release them if you please, but all we are trying to do is let you know what could happen to them. Sorry if I offended you in any way, I'm not actually here to hurt your feeling (Might come as a surprise

), I'm on this thread to try to help you with the well being of your fowl. Honestly, if you know the things that can happen to them, and you are okay with it, then do as you please.

(Our main goal is to keep our flock safe, so before actually doing so, please read ALL the posts (If you haven't already), and then make up your mind)

 

[DuckLover9138]

DuckLover179: Sorry if I came off as harsh. I didn't mean it like it, but after seeing so many people almost like attacking me, it felt awkward at best. I am not going to release it for a while. I don't want to talk myself into a corner by saying never since circumstances that can't be foreseen can come up. I actually like ducks! I admire what you are doing, saving animals! It is a noble goal. Hope one day you become a vet!

Speceider: I would love to see the research studies and their follow ups that says little under 20% survive. It is probably true, but I want to see where the dangers are so I can avoid the problems in my backyard.

 

[Speceider]

A quick citation would be:

Gatti, R.C. 1981. A comparison of two hand-reared mallard release methods. Wildl. Soc. Bull. 9:37-43.

Rates averaged from 0-13% over 2 years. Best was one year with 21% return rate.

Clint

 

[DuckLover179]

It's fine... (I was worried I was coming of WAY to harsh!

) Funny you say that, cause in a few years I'm going to be taking a veterinary course in college (At least, I'm hoping to!).

(I'm babbling!

) Anyway, good luck with with your ducks!

 

[StevenW.]

Hmmm that's weird cause in Illinois it's illegal to own a mallard with out having a permit..... I'm going to have to talk to the Fish and Game Officer again!

I'm sorry if I came off a little strong!

Have fun with your ducks!

 

[DuckLover9138]

NP, I think (not sure) the law exist to prevent people from taking birds in the wild and keeping them as pets. The ones that you buy from hatcheries with the phenotype of "wild mallard" are still genetically a wild duck even if they are raised by humans. The domestic ducks are genetically and phenotypically "domestic."

I think it has to do with trying to prevent cross breeding since the genes from larger growth seem to be dominant or partially dominate in many causes. They are probably afraid the mixed offsprings will ruin the wild type ones. There are probably other reasons as well.