Hi,

I live on a lake in Florida and was so happy to see a duck with eight ducklings. Yesterday, I noticed mommy duck standing on one leg. Her other leg is broken (we looked with a birding scope to see her up close). Now I'm afraid she will not be able to eat and take care of her eight ducklings. She is not a pet, so I don't think there is any way to get close to her. I really don't want her to suffer and for the ducklings to die. If any one has any sugestions, they would be much appreciated. We called the wild life authorities, but they are very busy in Florida during this time of year. Thanks for your help. (As you can tell, I'm a bit of a city girl...) Joani

-- Joani Spadaro (joani_spadaro@shiftoptionseven.com), May 05, 2002

Answers

Leave them alone and let nature take its course. It'll amaze you what "disadvantaged" wildlife can do. Close to home (Maine) there is a whitetail deer missing a front leg. For the last 3 years she's had one or two lambs each spring. She can get around as well as any of them can.

-- Scott in Maine (mummj@nemaine.com), May 05, 2002.

Joani, If the hen can swim quite well she can probably take care of the ducklings. If she is catchable it might be something you could do if you get in touch with the wild duck(mallard?)rehabbers there in your area. They can advise you from here. If she is not catchable she can get away from predators and chances are the duckings will do as well as they would if she were normal. Some of them will just naturally fall prey to predator snacks, thats just nature, as mentioned above. It it not uncommon for drakes to beat up, break the legs of and even kill hens. Try not to feel to badly about it. Sorry I have nothing better to offer. LQ

-- Little Quacker in OR (carouselxing@juno.com), May 05, 2002.