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Subject:

Bad P.R. for ducks...

From:

Lynette Fullerton

Reply-To:

Maryland Birds & Birding

Date:

Thu, 8 Apr 2004 11:57:13 -0700

I remember this subject came up a while back (I think
it was here and not on Birdchat, but I may be wrong).
Here's something that appeared in today's edition of
the Capital, in the Arundel Report section (I'm
assuming they're talking about mallards here):

>>"Duck attack rescue ends on a sad note"

As usual, the four-member patrol from Coast Guard
Station Annapolis was ready for any rescue calls on
the Chesapeake Bay.

But they never expected this.

While docking at City Dock to grab a bite to eat
Tuesday night, the crew saw a duck being mauled by its
peers and swooped the bleeding animal out of safety -
to the cheers of a group of about 40 bystanders.

Unfortunately, the tale did not have a happy ending:
the duck died en route to the vet.

"That's too bad," Petty Officer Jodie Knox said upon
getting the news yesterday morning.  "You hope
something makes it after you spend your time tyring to
help it."

Petty officers Knox, Liam Walmsley, Justin Smothers
and Ben Talbert were docking their 41-foot utility
boat about 6 p.m. when they spotted the brawl in the
nearby water.

Crew members said about 10 ducks, who appeared to be
males, were vicously pecking a female duck, which was
bleeding from its head.

"They were relentless as far as trying to get that
duck," Petty Officer Knox said.

Some crew members said they were somewhat hesitant to
get involved, but decided to help after hearing the
crowd's pleas.  They were also concerned about the
safety of teenagers who had gone down a few rungs on
the dock's ladder and were trying to kick the
attacking ducks.

After unsuccessfully trying to break up the fight with
a boat hook, petty officers went down the ladder and
grabbed the duck with a blanket.

"There was clapping and cheering and pictures being
taken," PO Knox said.

County Animal Control arrived and took the duck, but
it died while they were driving it to get treatment.

Karina Blizzard, wildlife and heritage associate
director of the Department of Natural Resources, said
mating probably sparked the fracas.

"They could have been ganging up on her trying to mate
with her," she said.

She said this is a common occurrence among ducks and
observers should avoid interfering.

"As a general rule, you need to leave wildlife alone
and let them take care of themselves, because good and
bad, it's a part of nature," she said.
<<

Lynette Fullerton
l_fullerton_1999 @ yahoo.com
Odenton, MD


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