Human imprinted ducklings rehoused

[Quatie]

I would contact your local organizations. They will be familiar with the laws. They also may not allow you to release those birds back into the wild. In some areas, you need to follow certain regulations in order to release them. For example, if they are too familiar with humans, they may not want them back in the wild. Once an animal is deemed non-releasable, it is considered dead to the wildlife population.

The best thing is to contact your local organizations. Animal control and wild life rehab organization will know far more about what you can do at this point and who else may be able to help you.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I agree with just contacting your local DNR (not rehabber) and being open and honest with the situation. I only say to go straight to DNR and not a rehabber because I took a bird I found with a broken wing in to an "aviary rehabber" and when I was asking questions at the drop off because I was curious on how they handled their birds every answer was 'i don't know" or "I've never dealt with one of these so I don't know". I'm talking basic questions as well like where do they typically do the release (because she had me drop it off at her house in the middle of town which I thought was weird), what do they do if the bird can't be released due to permanent injury, what vet do they use in the area for wildlife etc. She quickly rushed me to log in her book then shoved a donation basket in my face. The sad part is I called ahead to make sure the woman had time so I wasn't just showing up or imposing on her day and was going to write a $1000 check for her rescue, but the fact she couldn't be bothered to answer any of my questions left a bad taste in my mouth. I ended up giving her just the cash I had in my wallet. Any DNR that I've met or had to work with always were extremely helpful and happy to answer questions.

 

[Quatie]

I agree with just contacting your local DNR (not rehabber) and being open and honest with the situation. I only say to go straight to DNR and not a rehabber because I took a bird I found with a broken wing in to an "aviary rehabber"

That is a bummer they were not more upfront about how things work. If they can't be released, animals are either put down or given to zoos, wild life centers and such for education purposes. The unfortunate thing is if they can't be released, they can't help the breeding population, so they euthanize them to focus on the birds they can help. The reality is you can't help them all and many have injuries that will permanently prevent them from surviving in the wild. It is a hard job. People go into the job wanting to save all these animals, but it is just not possible. There are not enough places to take non-releasable animals, so majority are put down. Sorry it is a bit of a downer, but that is how the world of rehab works.

I would still call a wildlife rehaber, and see if they are releaseable. If not, you can decide to keep them or find someone else to care for them. But definitely just be honest. Most people are unaware how wildlife rescue goes.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

That is a bummer they were not more upfront about how things work. If they can't be released, animals are either put down or given to zoos, wild life centers and such for education purposes. The unfortunate thing is if they can't be released, they can't help the breeding population, so they euthanize them to focus on the birds they can help. The reality is you can't help them all and many have injuries that will permanently prevent them from surviving in the wild. It is a hard job. People go into the job wanting to save all these animals, but it is just not possible. There are not enough places to take non-releasable animals, so majority are put down. Sorry it is a bit of a downer, but that is how the world of rehab works.

I would still call a wildlife rehaber, and see if they are releaseable. If not, you can decide to keep them or find someone else to care for them. But definitely just be honest. Most people are unaware how wildlife rescue goes.

I am aware of how it goes I just like to know when making larger donations that I'm actually donating to someone who is knowledgeable and trustworthy. Kind of like donating to any charity you ask questions and if possible do your research, but many rehabbers I've come across don't have much information available publicly so asking simple questions is sometimes the only way to go. If someone is asking for donations they should be able to answer very basic questions on how they operate and where the donations go. I personally prefer to work with DNR simply because they like to educate and any contact I've had with them is straightforward. Everyone's experience is different and this is simply my own opinion.

 

[AlyssaB4]

Even though my ducks are not imprinted on me and they have a large 30x30 aviary, they still quack loudly for me to be with them all day. Even at night if they hear me open the back door they shout quack for me to come to the barn and hang out with them or take them for a walk. I imagine the neediness would be even more intense with imprinted ducks. I find it charming, but it is also a lot of responsibility. @fatty and friends is right about ducks being as much work as a dog. I think my dog is actually much less work. Ducks are very rewarding and charming, just a lot of work.

Are you in an area where loudly quacking ducks would be permitted?

I am not sure. I’m still trying to find and figure out what permits are needed and even available. However, i know now that these ducklings would still be considered wild, which is then not legal. If it is best for their mental/emotional health that I keep them then I will make it happen the best that I can for them to have the best, happiest lives. But I just am not sure if the imprinting on me will be an issue for them (being sad, etc.) if I did give them to a wildlife center. If it shouldn’t be a problem and they will adjust well then I would give them up just because I think it would be best for them to be able to be around other ducks, etc.

 

[AlyssaB4]

That is a bummer they were not more upfront about how things work. If they can't be released, animals are either put down or given to zoos, wild life centers and such for education purposes. The unfortunate thing is if they can't be released, they can't help the breeding population, so they euthanize them to focus on the birds they can help. The reality is you can't help them all and many have injuries that will permanently prevent them from surviving in the wild. It is a hard job. People go into the job wanting to save all these animals, but it is just not possible. There are not enough places to take non-releasable animals, so majority are put down. Sorry it is a bit of a downer, but that is how the world of rehab works.

I would still call a wildlife rehaber, and see if they are releaseable. If not, you can decide to keep them or find someone else to care for them. But definitely just be honest. Most people are unaware how wildlife rescue goes.

Ok thank you. Ya that is a the other thing that has me very hesitant to give them up because I don’t want them to just be one of hundreds and not get the care they need or be put down if they do get sick or something in the future. I found all this out because the other day I was calling local avian vets just so I could get them checked out to make sure everything is going good. One of the places I called was a bird rescue... the guy there informed me that it was illegal to have them and wanted me to drop them off (he was kind of rude about the whole thing though :/). He said they would be put with hundreds of other ducklings they rescued this year and that they would be let back into the wild. That is what made me have to start contemplating if it would be best to give them up. But as I said, I also don’t think it sounds all that great to be “one of hundreds” of ducklings and them be worse off. And then the fact that they human imprinted.

 

[AlyssaB4]

I would contact your local organizations. They will be familiar with the laws. They also may not allow you to release those birds back into the wild. In some areas, you need to follow certain regulations in order to release them. For example, if they are too familiar with humans, they may not want them back in the wild. Once an animal is deemed non-releasable, it is considered dead to the wildlife population.

The best thing is to contact your local organizations. Animal control and wild life rehab organization will know far more about what you can do at this point and who else may be able to help you.

thank you.

I would contact your local organizations. They will be familiar with the laws. They also may not allow you to release those birds back into the wild. In some areas, you need to follow certain regulations in order to release them. For example, if they are too familiar with humans, they may not want them back in the wild. Once an animal is deemed non-releasable, it is considered dead to the wildlife population.

The best thing is to contact your local organizations. Animal control and wild life rehab organization will know far more about what you can do at this point and who else may be able to help you.

Thank you, I will look up who to call in my area!

 

[Quatie]

Ok thank you. Ya that is a the other thing that has me very hesitant to give them up because I don’t want them to just be one of hundreds and not get the care they need or be put down if they do get sick or something in the future. I found all this out because the other day I was calling local avian vets just so I could get them checked out to make sure everything is going good. One of the places I called was a bird rescue... the guy there informed me that it was illegal to have them and wanted me to drop them off (he was kind of rude about the whole thing though :/). He said they would be put with hundreds of other ducklings they rescued this year and that they would be let back into the wild. That is what made me have to start contemplating if it would be best to give them up. But as I said, I also don’t think it sounds all that great to be “one of hundreds” of ducklings and them be worse off. And then the fact that they human imprinted.

Yeah. It can be a hard decision. If they are willing to release them, they won't euthanize them.

The other thing is they are mallards and you can get domestic mallards. In my area, you have to band them or such to distinguish them from wild mallards. You can buy these from lots of places legally. If you choose to keep them, you can just say you bought them. Otherwise, there is no way to tell the difference.

 

[NatJ]

The main issue i have is that they are imprinted on me (cry when I am not in sight,etc.), so it scares me and breaks my heart to think that they might feel scared or sad/abandoned if I give them to a rescue center.

When ducklings grow up wild, with their mother, they imprint on her. But sometimes the mother gets killed, and the ducklings do OK if they were old enough at the time. And adult wild ducks do not follow their mother everywhere-- at some point, they consider themselves grown up, choose mates, and raise their own babies.

I do not know exactly how the ducklings will feel, but I am quite confident that they will be OK if you do give them to a rescue center. And the younger they are, the more time they have to get used to living as actual ducks. Being put with many ducklings their own age might be the best thing for them.

 

[AlyssaB4]

Yeah. It can be a hard decision. If they are willing to release them, they won't euthanize them.

The other thing is they are mallards and you can get domestic mallards. In my area, you have to band them or such to distinguish them from wild mallards. You can buy these from lots of places legally. If you choose to keep them, you can just say you bought them. Otherwise, there is no way to tell the difference.

Ok great! That was actually my next question because the rescue place that wanted to take the ducklings said to send a picture of them so he could “confirm they were wild” before dropping them off (I said ok and then never did). So I was wondering HOW he would be able to confirm that by pictures, if there was any physical differences or markers that would give that away?