Problems with ducks & geese
 The most common wild duck in urban and suburban areas is the mallard, a dabbling duck that feeds on seed, aquatic grasses and pond weeds. They will supplement their diet during the breeding season with insects and other invertebrates. Mallards frequently interbreed with domestic ducks, producing hybrids that may or may not look similar to mallards. The hybrids are not considered a native species, even when they look very similar to mallards. |
Ducks in pool
Cover the pool to prevent the problem. If pool cannot be covered, float an inflatable swan (a natural enemy of ducks) in the pool. String reflective mylar strips above the pool so the ducks won't be able to land. Do not put food out for them. Look for a nest in nearby bushes, ivy or other groundcover. Remove the eggs and nest material so you won't end up with ducklings in the pool. |
Ducklings in pool
Provide a ramp for them to leave the water. Keeping the mother and babies together, encourage them to leave by shooing them out. Leave a gate open. Do not attempt to pick up and relocate the ducklings because mom will fly away, often abandoning her young. Do not put food out for the ducks; that will make them stay. |
Duck family in bad location
Duck families in parking lots or in the street should be left alone; at most provide crossing-guard service, stopping traffic so they can cross the street. The mother had her babies away from water and is attempting to lead them to water. Do not attempt to pick up the ducklings for relocation-mom will fly away, often abandoning her young. If the duck family is on the freeway, call the local highway patrol. If the ducklings are in an enclosed backyard, escort the family out of the yard. If you must pick up the ducklings, put them in an open box and take them to the front yard. Don't go through the house; make sure the mother can see her babies the entire time. Don't attempt to capture the mother. If on the freeway, call your local highway/transportation department. |
Ducklings in storm drain
Contact the city, county or local water company. They have access to the tools needed to remove the grate. Fashion a pole with a net to scoop out the babies. When the rescue is complete, release the babies away from the drain. |
Hybrid mallards
Mallards often mate with domestic ducks. Hybrid mallards are larger and more aggressive than pure mallards. Larger male hybrids may drown smaller mallard females during mating. Hybrids compete for limited natural food supplies and can cause genetic dilution of the native population. Almost all ducks nesting in really inappropriate places should be considered hybrids. |
Do not feed waterfowl
Feeding ducks or geese can make them very sick. Their natural diets include aquatic vegetation, insects and mollusks. The food that people usually give to ducks isn't good for them and can cause health problems. If you must feed them, purchase cracked corn from the local feed stores. |
Feeding them can cause water pollution. When ducks and geese cannot eat all of the food given to them, the excess food will rot. Rotting food will contaminate the water and make it unhealthy for all of the animals nearby. Be sure to feed them away from the water's edge to keep down the water contamination. |
Feeding ducks can cause other problems. Too much food can cause ducks to breed quickly and overpopulate the area. This over-population can cause duck feces to contaminate the water and lead to serious disease outbreaks in the warm months. Many wild birds including shorebirds, gulls, raptors and songbirds die every year because of diseases in ponds and wetland areas. When one area becomes over-populated, domestic ducks will look for new areas to lay their eggs, including our backyards and swimming pools. Remove duck eggs from backyards or swimming pool areas to help prevent the overpopulation of domestic ducks. |
Don't release domestic (pet) ducks into the wild
Most ducks found in local ponds, marinas and parks are descendants of pet ducks that were released or escaped from their owners. Domestic ducks will mate with wild ducks and can drastically change the behavior, physical characteristics and populations of wild ducks. |
Geese on lawn
Replace the grass with other varieties of grass (the geese's favorite is Kentucky bluegrass) or with ground covers (pachysandra, periwinkle, English ivy) so the geese have less to eat. Use a product called "Goose Chase" sprayed on the lawn. Order from www.bird-x.com or call 312-226-2473. |
Geese in pond
Plant trees and hedges near pond to act as a natural fence. |
Geese nesting on building
Call the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: In northern California call Sacramento at 916.979.2987 or Burlingame at 650.876.9078. |
Heron/egret eating fish in pond
Usually a great blue heron, great egret or snowy egret. Cover the pond with netting. Provide rocks and plants for the fish to hide in. Use a "Scarecrow" (motion-detector sprinkler) found at www.gardensalive.com or other gardening catalogs. |
Heron by road
It is normal for great blue herons to hunt in fields and along roadways, looking for rodents. |
