Caught a Mallard Drake, alive :?

[jtoews80]

I was driving near my dads farm tonight and came across a Mallard drake lying on the mile road. As I approached, he ran and tried to fly into the ditch. Totally biffed it into the ditch, landed in a pile and then started running. This got my curiousity up, so I stopped and ran after him and actually caught him.
Took him home and showed my neice and brother this duck. There was a small bit mark into the back of his neck just about a half inch below the white ring around his neck. I checked him over a little bit, but didn't stretch out his wings to inspect them. I then carried him out to a small natural pond we have out on the back of dad's quarter and released him onto it. There was another pair of mallards there, but they flew when I walked up with this injured one. I released him and he swam across the pond in the direction the other two went and then tried to fly a couple times.
He seemed to be having issues even geting his wings positioned because he would almost sink his front end and then beat the water with them a couple times. I probably should have just put him down, but figured he might be ok in the morning. Most likely it was a nervous injury judging by the canine bit marks on the back of his neck, likely a mink by the size.
I guess I'm a suck with game animals when they are not able to use their natural defenses, I really admire the strong will to live that all wild animals have, not worried about being injured or possibly eaten during the night, just wanting to keep trying right now.

I enjoyed the chance to see one up close, but my bro was too busy to take pics and I didn't want to stress the duck out by handling him too much. Sorry guys.

JT>

 

[JD338]

Cool Story. 8)

JD338

 

[bullet]

That was fun and I like the story, thanks for sharing.

 

[Greg Nolan]

You are a true sportsman. If it weren't for hunters there would be no conservation or animals to conserve by now.
It must have been neat to hold a real wild duck. Thanks for sharing the story. I had a cottontail run up to me and I picked it up when I was about 12 or so. It later died. It was scared half to death and I got the impression something had got at it because it was bleeding in several spots. It's a tough life out there for them and us.
Let us know if the duck stays around long enough to heal up.

 

[jtoews80]

No dice, the duck met an unfortunate end.

I went out and checked tonight and there was a 2 foot circle of feathers at the edge of the pond and the ribs and spine. The breast had been eaten along with the head and most of the internal organs. I would assume a hawk got him because of the bones being left. I think a yote would have carried him a bit further away from the pond and not left anything.

I was a bit sad to see that, however there was very little I could do. To put him in the barn would have killed him slowly, wild birds don't usually eat in captivity. It was great to see a live duck. Regrettably, nature isn't always serene and peaceful. It can be hard and cruel, this is the side of nature that most people are not aware of. Often, when two animals meet in the wild, one eats and the other is eaten. Nothing at all like Disney's Bambi and Thumper.

JT.

 

[Greg Nolan]

You know that sounds a lot like politicians. I know what you mean but at least you did what you can do. I can shoot most anything and not feel guilty but from time to time we try to do what we can to protect the defensless. There is a difference. That's why we are sportsmen and sportswomen and not wonton killers. Everything 's got to eat.
Survival of the fittest and all that. Thank you for sharing the experience.
Greg

 

[Ridge_Runner]

I caught a wood duck drake once, he was walking along the edge of a field and hopped into a ditch and tried to run, I scooped him up and took him to a friend who hunts waterfowl, he put him in a building with a washtub of water, fed him and released him 3 days later when he felt like flying.
RR