Species Info

DUCKS

We are blessed to have a wide variety of duck species in Newfoundland. Their colours, size and shape varies, as does their habitat.

Ducks are very resilient birds! Many with minor inhuries do not need our intervention. A limp is common during mating season as ducks will grab the feet and legs of another duck with their bill. The cold water of the pond is the best therapy for these injuries. As long as the bird can escape into the water we usually leave them alone.

How to know when an injured duck needs help:

• If there is an open bleeding wound.
• If there is a visible fracture.
• If a wing is dropped or broken.
• If there is an eye infection.
• If there are a great deal of feathers missing on the back, head or wings.
• Many times during mating season female ducks are plucked to the point of open wounds - these ducks need to get to a rehabililtator as they can be open to a host of infections or hypothermia.
• If the duck looks sick - discharge from the eyes or beak or too lethargic to stand.

Many duck health issues arise from the overfeeding by humans! This leads to larger gatherings than would occur naturally which can exacerbate the spread of disease and injuries in overcrowded areas.

*Please also refrain from feeding ducks in places that can subject them to injury. If you feed them on a parking lot or in a busy area, they will return to that area for food. This puts them in danger from domestic pets, foot traffic or cat strikes.

WILD DUCKLINGS

Not all wild ducklings need help. Here are some rules of thumb as to how we would handle these situations.

*IF spotted in a stream or pond - Please keep in mind mom is usually not far away and will hear them quacking for her. *(Youngsters wander off sometimes) These babies should not be interfered with! No touching or moving these little guys. Let mom do her job.

*IF ducklings are spotted on a busy road with mom - We simply corral them all away from the road and try to guide them to a safer location - We DO NOT separate mom and ducklings!

*IF ducklings are spotted near a busy road WITHOUT mom - this might mean mom has been hit in traffic - this is a situation where we would collect the ducklings but only after making sure mom is actually gone. (Mother ducks do better job than humans do!) It's always the better choice.

*PLEASE keep in mind that the longer a duckling spends with humans - there is a higher likelihood that they will not be viable for release. So please, please, please do not handle, cuddle or play with wild ducklings! This will cause them problems long term. If you have a duckling who truly needs help, the faster you can get them to us the better.

Our goal here at The Rock Wildlife Rescue is to ONLY intervene when absolutely necessary.

The 3 R's of WILDLIFE RESCUE

• RESCUE (Only if absolutely necessary)
• REHAB (Only when required and only by a certified rehabilitator)
• RELEASE (As soon as possible)

Wildlife belongs in the wild!