DEAR JOAN: I have been “hosting” a family of seven ducklings and a mother mallard duck for about a month and a half in my backyard swimming pool.
I am not sure how they got here, as the yard is securely fenced and I have a small dog that patrols the yard daily. There was no sign of a nest. One day the family suddenly appeared in the pool.
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I called Wildlife, and they suggested I not feed them, but I failed at that suggestion. Over the years I have watched mother ducks in the neighborhood walking down the street with their ducklings as crows followed and pecked at the last duckling, until, well, you know, they weren’t there anymore.
I have been walking my dog outside the yard, and I keep my cats on the catio, so the ducklings have thrived. They are quite entertaining, with their speed swimming, deep diving, and catching bugs in the air, but they are getting bigger by the minute, and pooping accordingly.
Are there any organizations or individuals out there who have a pond or are interested in this happy and pampered family? I want what is best for them, and for me as well.
— Nancy M., Sunnyvale
DEAR NANCY: This is a case of locking the barn door after the horses left, except in this case, the horses are ducks and they are living the highlife in your backyard.
Let’s first deal with relocating the ducks. These birds are protected under the federal Migratory Birds Act, which means you can’t physically relocate, harm or harass them, not that you would — you’ve been a most accommodating host to them, and probably helped save their lives. But because they are wild birds, not domesticated, they can’t be rehomed.
You can, however, make things less comfy for them, which would be better for them in the long run. A backyard pool is not the best place for waterfowl.
Ducks need three things to be happy — water, food and a place of safety. You’ve provided all three, giving them little inclination to move on. The first thing to do is to stop feeding them. The second would be to make the pool less attractive.
You can do that by installing a solar cover, floating toys in the pool (the two recommended ones are a dancing dolphin, which floats upright, and an alligator), or by adding a product called Duck Off, which alters the surface tension and makes it impossible for the ducks to float.
Your dog can also encourage them to leave. If you’re certain the dog won’t injure the ducks, you can let him, or her, roam the yard, or you can walk the dog in the yard with a leash on.
Doing even one of those things will likely send the ducks off on a new adventure.
Too hot to ignore
With the temperatures climbing, please think about your pets. Pavement becomes superheated and can burn paws; outside pets need shade and water; and a car, even one parked in the shade, is no place to leave a pet. Our buddies deserve a happy and healthy summer.
The Animal Life column runs on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at [email protected].