We live in a subdivision with a small lake in the middle. Our backyard faces the lake. In the spring of 2007 one of the homeowners decided to release 2 farm ducks into the water. This past year the ducks had 6 babies but only 4 survived. The family that released them does not do anything for the ducks. No food or fresh water during the winter months. Two other families have put out corn and water, but one of those families moved this summer.
For those of you who don't know, farm ducks do not fly and are considered domestic animals. They are not wild so the DNR will not do anything other than tell us that the family that released them is extremely irresponsible. We live in Michigan where the lake will freeze for weeks at a time. Without fresh water and a source for food they will die, hence the neighbors that fed them.
With 6 ducks now to feed, the family that is willing to feed them can not afford it on their own. No one else is willing so what do we do. I do not want to be responsible for the ducks, I didn't put them there and don't want them. They poop in our yards, make tons of noise because they want us to feed them. DH and I sit in our yard near the water most Sundays in the summer. It is now so loud that I can not read because they are quacking. The poor babies (which aren't babies anymore) do not know how to forage on their own because of the families that have fed them.
Now if my dog were to go around the lake pooping and begging, the HOA would be all over me, but for some reason no one wants to do anything about the ducks. I'm guessing that if the ducks are considered domestic animals, they are also considered property. I can't just capture the ducks and take them somewhere. I don't want to harm them. I just don't want their mess and MORE of them next summer. For all we know, all four babies could be female and since there is no incest among ducks, we could 20 ducks next year. Of course they could all be males too.
Anyone have any ideas on how to solve this?
For those of you who don't know, farm ducks do not fly and are considered domestic animals. They are not wild so the DNR will not do anything other than tell us that the family that released them is extremely irresponsible. We live in Michigan where the lake will freeze for weeks at a time. Without fresh water and a source for food they will die, hence the neighbors that fed them.
With 6 ducks now to feed, the family that is willing to feed them can not afford it on their own. No one else is willing so what do we do. I do not want to be responsible for the ducks, I didn't put them there and don't want them. They poop in our yards, make tons of noise because they want us to feed them. DH and I sit in our yard near the water most Sundays in the summer. It is now so loud that I can not read because they are quacking. The poor babies (which aren't babies anymore) do not know how to forage on their own because of the families that have fed them.
Now if my dog were to go around the lake pooping and begging, the HOA would be all over me, but for some reason no one wants to do anything about the ducks. I'm guessing that if the ducks are considered domestic animals, they are also considered property. I can't just capture the ducks and take them somewhere. I don't want to harm them. I just don't want their mess and MORE of them next summer. For all we know, all four babies could be female and since there is no incest among ducks, we could 20 ducks next year. Of course they could all be males too.
Anyone have any ideas on how to solve this?
) in the paper for free.
If anything maybe they'll point you in the right direction.
