NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — An ongoing dispute among residents over the growing population of Muscovy ducks on Orange Lake in Sims Park in downtown New Port Richey and the pond on Azalea Drive has prompted the city to launch a web survey available through July 17 to determine if the nonnative ducks should be left alone or humanely trapped and removed.
Muscovy ducks are native to South America and spread into Central America and Texas during the early 1900s.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, these birds were illegally released into Florida lakes and ponds, primarily by people who acquired them as pets, starting in the 1960s.
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No permit is required to possess Muscovy ducks. However, both Florida statutes and federal regulations prohibit the release of Muscovy ducks. This means anyone acquiring a Muscovy duck must keep it in an enclosure that will prevent its escape into the wild.
The FWC, however, does not remove nuisance Muscovy ducks. Removal of ducks can be done by the landowner or a municipality can hire a nuisance wildlife trapper to trap and humanely euthanize the ducks. Federal law doesn’t allow them to be relocated.
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The male Muscovy duck is considered the largest duck in North America. The species has no vocal cords, so they do not quack, but rather hiss.
They’re easily identified by the unattractive red warty bumps on their faces.
The FWC said the ducks can invasive, taking over habitats and forcing other waterfowl to flee lakes and ponds they’ve inhabited for decades, including the decidedly more attractive native mottled duck, wood duck, fulvous whistling duck, black-bellied whistling duck, as well as 30 species of ducks that winter in the Sunshine State.
Muscovy ducks can also stress the natural ecosystem, eradicating native plants, causing algae blooms and elevated bacteria levels in swimming lakes due to their droppings.
Residents complain that the droppings also make a mess of sidewalks, driveways and pool cages, and can potentially spread disease.
Environmentalist also worry about the ducks breeding with Florida’s native waterfowl, undermining the purity of native species, while residents complain that the territorial ducks have charged children and pets.
There are many residents, however, who say they enjoy the ducks and would hate to see them removed.
“Those ducks have been there so many years. If you get rid of them, they’re going to come back,” said Linda Connolly. “I could understand thinning them out some but, actually, they bring smiles to a lot of people that walk by and see them, especially in the spring when the babies hatch.”
She said she’d rather officials use those funds to improve the city’s drinking water quality, which, at times, is a yellow or dark amber when she turns on her faucets.
Other residents were emphatic that Muscovy ducks are a nuisance.
“I thought everyone had learned their lesson with these messy and prolific ducks in the ’80s,” commented Bill White.
“Get rid of them,” added Ralph Simoneau.
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