Some of y'all may recall my post talking about dealing with the resident ducks we've got in the neighborhood and the desires of some (me included) to thin the flock with high-powered pellet guns and whatnot.

Well, the HOA put the kibosh on that but in large part thanks to some info I got from ursusguy they've hired people to remove and euthanize the invasive Muscovy ducks and try to get the wild duck population down to a more manageable number.

Interestingly there are 2 somewhat discrete populations. One lake has the vast majority of the Muscovy ducks and a bunch of the white domestics. There are a few other resident birds too. But the other lake has had a nice population of wild birds this winter. There's been a big flock with a bunch of redheads, mallards, widgeon, gadwall, and teal. No pintails though.

Of course there are always stupid neighbors as some folks reported the guys removed the ducks to the cops. Thankfully the cops didn't hassle them much. But one lady in particular was just appalled that the invasive Muscovy ducks would have to be destroyed and here was her message on the matter:

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I'd love to see more native species but I'm not willing to murder the non-native ones just to get there. That's like someone requesting that anyone who is not a Native American (which is the vast majority of US citizens) be killed because we're not native.

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Fellas, you just can't fix stupid.

imagine if this was your neighborhood (DFW). and how crazy it would be with crazy neighbors.

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2016/02/10/bobcat-attacks-continue-in-richardson-killing-14-dogs/

Did you tell the lady that most American citizens are native American?

Perhaps you could sell the ducks to the local Chinese restaurant and she could eat the ducks.

Haha. "Murdering" a duck?

Thanks for the update.

Is there an Omaha steaks type operation that you could pay to ship her a whole frozen duck?

Like what was proposed here in Gleannloch Farms, I think it's funny that people think a one time operation will eliminate the invasives and reduce the wild population to a manageable level.

Ducks fly people. Other ducks will fill the void.

We debated this at a community meeting and the idiots won out. They spent a couple thousand dollars from our fund to eliminate a bunch of ducks only to end up with the same number (muscovy and wild) of ducks within 3-4 months.

So much fun to attend the next meeting and say, "I told you so."

A good start would be just getting rid of the Muscovies and whenever more show up get rid of them before they multiply.

They bully the smaller native/wild ducks.

"...and try to get the wild duck population down to a more manageable number."

Why? Besides, aren't they migratory?

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A good start would be just getting rid of the Muscovies and whenever more show up get rid of them before they multiply.

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Remember, Muscovy Ducks were added to the Migratory Bird Act in 2010. They also became subject to a USFWS control order in all but 3 Texas counties. You can't relocate the birds now, you can only euthanize the birds or place them with federally licensed rehabilitators. Because of the Control Order, any harm to ducks, their eggs, and even their nests that is not consistent with the Control Order is now a federal offense.

Meaning you will have to pay a professional to handle the birds every time, meaning you have to keep spending money.

From my standpoint, I don't want to keep perpetually spending money because some lady (as was the case in Gleannloch) was tired of ducks crapping on her patio. You know what, if you don't like ducks and wildlife, don't live on a lake.

When you choose a house, you need to consider the ramifications. I live on the golf course and I accept the chance that sitting in the pool I may get popped in the head or the occasional ball through the window. I just don't want to pay for the lady who didn't think things through properly when she bought the house and wants to spend our money to fix her problems.

Edit: I'll also add, if she (or anybody else on the lakes) wants to pay for the removal, I've got no problem with that. She can knock her socks off with the duck removal process.

On a side note, as the Katy Prairie gets developed, ducks will lose a major stopping point on the central migratory route. Where do you think they will go? Answer: Anywhere they can find water and food.

anybody in a subdivision should have the reasonable expectation that wild animals are not ****ting all over their patio on a regular basis

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anybody in a subdivision should have the reasonable expectation that wild animals are not ****ting all over their patio on a regular basis

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So in a 3000+ home community, you think it's OK for one vocal lady (with 3-4 neighbors quietly supporting her) to demand the subdivision pay thousands of dollars to keep ducks off her patio? Interesting. We'll have to disagree on that.

Especially since, as I stated earlier, the ducks returned within 3-4 months and we ended up with the same problem. A further removal was not authorized so the money was totally wasted. Sorry, but in my mind that was just fiscally irresponsible.

I've never encouraged, and usually actively discourage muskovies. If you can get a subdivision to reduce their muskovies and domestics AND quit feeding, you can substantially cut down on water quality issues. Sure the migratory birds will come in, but this is why you can't feed. I've worked with a number of subdivisions to reduce their waterfowl complaints, and still have migratory waterfowl. Granted, I had the advantage of federally licensed rehabbers that do it for free (not my thing, but more can't stop them if that is the route they like), and in DFW area if you aren't feeding, they will eventually keep heading for Houston.

I never had too much trouble working through the Control Order, it's pretty open ended compared to standard MBTA protection.

dent- can you elaborate on the control order? I didn't hire these guys, the HOA did. I assume they're complying with the law.

And if I were this lady I would just off the ducks and shut up about it.

ursus hit on the plan- eliminate the Muscovies & domestics and the wild population is much more in line with a suitable population. And reduce the feeding too. That should help keep the numbers manageable and improve the water quality.

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anybody in a subdivision should have the reasonable expectation that wild animals are not ****ting all over their patio on a regular basis

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So in a 3000+ home community, you think it's OK for one vocal lady (with 3-4 neighbors quietly supporting her) to demand the subdivision pay thousands of dollars to keep ducks off her patio? Interesting. We'll have to disagree on that.

Especially since, as I stated earlier, the ducks retired within 3-4 months and we ended up with the same problem. A further removal was not authorized so the money was totally wasted. Sorry, but in my mind that was just fiscally irresponsible.

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You are taking it past what I said. I think its reasonable that she's not happy with it, but that doesn't mean it's the subdivisions responsibility.

I think the obvious solution is to relocate the bobcats to the lake.

So, ursus, when should the HOA expect their first duck rape case?

Yeah, that was special. Thanks Addisson. When they get about a 17:1 sex ratio.

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dent- can you elaborate on the control order? I didn't hire these guys, the HOA did. I assume they're complying with the law.

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Maybe ursus knows more than I do. I read it a long time ago and can't say I remember everything. I do remember that the word "humanely" was prominent in the wording. What constitutes humanely I'm not sure.

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And if I were this lady I would just off the ducks and shut up about it.

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Again, I'd like to know what ursus thinks about this. My feeling is that if she violates the control order and a single neighbor turns her in, she could be in some serious legal trouble.

In Gleannloch there was a guy who tried to poision the wild critters but it backfired and killed some neighbors pets. Not only did he get in legal trouble but now he's universally hated by his neighbors.

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You are taking it past what I said. I think its reasonable that she's not happy with it, but that doesn't mean it's the subdivisions responsibility.

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Sorry, I see what you were saying now.

Our issue in Summerwood is that I believe the developers "stocked" the Muscovies and white domestics when they built the neighborhood and one lake is literally 10 yards from the main community pool so there are constantly ducks getting into the pool area and crapping all over the place. It makes it difficult to maintain the pool and surrounding area.

The wild/native birds will come and go. Even though they do migrate lots will stay because of the constant feeding. And the Muscovies are substantially larger than these wild birds that have acclimated to humans so that when they're being fed the Muscovies often attack the smaller wild birds so they out-compete them for the food and multiply faster.

And of course there's the inevitable cases of little kids getting "attacked" by the Muscovies too.

I'm not really anti-Muscovy as a breed. It's my understanding that a significant percentage of ducks found in restaurants are Muscovy and I love eating duck. They just need to be in a more captive environment.

Regarding water quality, it's quite noticeable between the two lakes. They're roughly the same size and separated by a pretty major thoroughfare and one lake has probably 90% of our resident Muscovy & domestic white ducks. The water quality in that lake is terrible. There's virtually no aquatic vegetation other than filamentous algae and the water is extremely turbid.

The other lake has some ducks but right now they're mostly wild (right now there's a number of redheads, widgeon, mallards, and gadwall out there) and when the migratory birds are gone there might be 30 ducks on an 8ac lake. There's a decent amount of vegetation (I think it's Southern Naiad and some others) and the water quality/clarity is excellent. It's not uncommon to have 4-5 feet of visibility depending on how recently it's rained. I can sight-cast to bass in the shallows on this lake.

I've been on a slow path dealing with the HOA, first to get them to stop dying the lakes (which they've done). then to get them to come around to trying to reduce the duck population by getting rid of the Muscovy and domestic white ducks, next will be plant more native aquatic vegetation, and finally will be to probably stock a couple thousand pounds of shad and a fair amount of mature largemouth bass to knock down the population of undersized bream & stunted bass.

Is there any vegetation that ducks avoid that could be planted?

Perhaps, ring the ponds with boxwood.

Unless the neighborhood is going to claim the muscovys and white domestics as their property as long as you're not discharging fire arms I would have to imagine you could kill them.

I ran over at least 4 in my hood before I moved out.

Would it be possible to open a Chinese restaurant along the lake?

Running over Muscovy ducks is a federal violation of the USFWS control order and would be subject to prosecution if anyone saw you and turned you in.

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Running over Muscovy ducks is a federal violation of the USFWS control act and would be subject to prosecution if anyone saw you and turned you in.

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I'd imagine it would have to be proven that you did it on purpose.

had a Muscovy lay more than a dozen eggs in a decorative flower pot in my front yard (pot is on its side) about a month or so ago.

had a really nasty storm, and the next night we found a bunch of feathers and a duck skeleton nearly picked clean.

Neighbor thought it might have been a coyote that got a nice big meal. several of the eggs she was siting on were busted up in what I guess was the fight. she had no escape since she was in the pot.

In reading this thread, I am getting that Muscovy Ducks are a huge controversial subject. They are primarily from Mexico, Central America, and South America, but because they have some established wild populations in Texas, we have to have laws concerning them.

It sounds like they are an "in-betweener" because you can kill them to reduce a nuisance, if I read that right.

Also, they are a nuisance in other states like Florida where someone planted them and they become a nuisance exactly like described in this thread. They are not native there are they?

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I'd imagine it would have to be proven that you did it on purpose.

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In Gleannloch farms about 10 years ago a guy accelerated through a mother duck with ducklings that were crossing the street that exits the subdivision. He killed the mother and several of the ducklings. Unfortunatly for him there were several witnesses in other vehicles. One lady took off after the guy and got his license plate number. Another gathered up the ducks and took them to a vet.

The guy was reported to the authorities. He ended up paying a hefty fine and God knows how much in legal fees. Is it even remotely worth the risk? Plus his name was leaked on the Subdivision Facebook page and I heard he received a lot flack. Nasty letters, stuff thrown at his house, etc.

The risk reward seems minimal to me.

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I'd imagine it would have to be proven that you did it on purpose.

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In Gleannloch farms about 10 years ago a guy accelerated through a mother duck with ducklings that were crossing the street that exits the subdivision. He killed the mother and several of the ducklings. Unfortunatly for him there were several witnesses in other vehicles. One lady took off after the guy and got his license plate number. Another gathered up the ducks and took them to a vet.

The guy was reported to the authorities. He ended up paying a hefty fine and God knows how much in legal fees. Is it even remotely worth the risk? Plus his name was leaked on the Subdivision Facebook page and I heard he received a lot flack. Nasty letters, stuff thrown at his house, etc.

The risk reward seems minimal to me.

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Those people sound every bit the oxygen-thief as the lady from my neighborhood I quoted in the OP.

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Would it be possible to open a Chinese restaurant along the lake?

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Works for stray cats too.

There is no such thing as the "USFWS Control Act."

Are you taking about Animal Damage Control Act?

Alrighty, have a couple minutes to play with.

Muscovies and the MBTA are an odd duck (sorry for the pun), and a reason why the HSUS did NOT like how the regulation played out. Effective 3/31/2010, gained legal protection under the MBTA due to natural range expansion into the 3 most southern Texas counties. In those counties, the protections are like traditional MBTA protection. At the exact same time, a Control Order was put into place that basically declared them to be an invasive species. Outside of those three counties, there is no requirement to have a federal permit to control their numbers.

Effectively the application of the MBTA and associated Control Order would be equivalent of the black bird/grackle under the MBTA meets Texas feral hog movement regulations. You don't need anything special to control their numbers if they are causing an issue (open-ended), BUT if you decided to live capture them thing get interesting. You have the option to euthanize, or a rehabber can keep them in a captive condition. Originally there wasn't supposed to be ANY kind of relocation, but the USFWS had to add some flexibility when HSUS got involved (but they still really don't like the reg).....and I'm sure this has changed in some manner since the last time I taught my dealing with nuisance migratory bird class....outside of the 3 Texas counties, the combo of the MBTA AND control order was to restrict their expansion rather the encourage survival.

Oh, and state humane law DO apply.

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There is no such thing as the "USFWS Control Act."

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Not USFWS Control Act, USFWS control order. I see that in one of my later posts I typed act accidentally, so I have edited it. It is essentially a group of rules and regulations that must be complied with when "controlling" a given species. In the case of Muscovy ducks, controlling, refers to killing or placing with a federally licensed animal rehabilitators.

In 3 counties in Texas the Muscovy duck is considered native. In those counties it is protected under the Migratory Species Act. In every other county, it is also subject to a control order allowing for the humane killing or placement of the ducks.