Response to Duck Drama by State Game Warden

In the midst of high media attention regarding the duck removal at Mary Jo Peckham Park, one curious constituent (not myself) contacted the Texas Game Warden to inquire about the legality of duck removal by Commissioner Steve Radack. The Game Warden’s response is below, and I thought it might be interesting to those following the story:

I am responding to a complaint that was filed with the Operation Game Thief for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department regarding the removal of protected migratory waterfowl species from a Harris County Park in Katy.  The issue of duck removal from the Harris County Park system in Katy has been addressed from a very proactive standpoint with personnel from Harris County Precinct 5.  Several years ago this issue arose out of concern for health and safety for people fishing, the welfare of migratory waterfowl and concerns involving invasive exotic duck species in Mary Jo Peckham Park, a Community Fishing Lake.  Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is partnered with Harris County to create an environment that is conducive to family outdoor recreation in county parks by participating in a fish stocking program that promotes recreational fishing.  I, State Game Warden Kevin Malonson, have worked very close with Harris County personnel to ensure that any removal of ducks from the park is guided by the laws of the State of Texas and federal guidelines.  After careful observations of the waterfowl species present in this park, it was determined that the vast majority of these ducks were an exotic species known as Muskovy ducks.  There have been several ducks that have appearances very similar to protected species however through hybridization these ducks bear Muskovy characteristics.  The removal of Muskovy or Muskovy hybrids, lethal or not, is lawful for depredation reasons whereas these particular ducks are causing problems at this facility.  There have been many instances where ducks have become entangled in fishing lines of recreational fisherman, also.  These ducks present a potential health hazard to humans, as determined by the Health Department, with regard to their waste or feces in the water of this contained pond since people eat these fish.  Provisions for ducks that cannot be differentiated from wild species involve transplanting them to Mason Creek Park.  For further information regarding the Muskovy duck I’ve included some factual data from Wikipedia:

“In the US, Muscovy Ducks, like other domestic animals, are considered private property. An owner may do with the birds as he or she pleases, so long as laws regarding animal cruelty are not violated. Similarly, if the ducks have no owner, no US state or federal law prohibits their capture. This can be a last resort to resolve a nuisance problem.

The Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata) is a large duck which is native to Mexico, Central and South America. A small wild population reaches into the US in the lower Rio Grande River basin in Texas.  This is a somewhat aggressive duck; males often fight over food, territory or mates.  There also are feral breeding populations in North America in and around public parks in nearly every state of the USA and in the Canadian provinces; feral populations also exist in Europe.  Feral Muscovy Ducks can breed near urban and suburban lakes and on farms, nesting in tree cavities or on the ground, under shrubs in yards, on condominium balconies, or under roof overhangs. Some feral populations, such as that in Florida, have a reputation of becoming nuisance pests on occasion (For more information, read ?Florida’s Introduced Birds: Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata)”). At night they often sleep at water, if there is a water source available, to flee quickly from predators if awoken. A small population of Muscovy Ducks can also be found in Ely, Cambridgeshire, UK, where they are considered a pest and culled by the local council.”

Sincerely,

Kevin Malonson, State Game Warden
10101 Southwest Frwy, #206
Houston, TX  77074
713-779-8977

Reference http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscovy_Duck

I found Mr. Malonson’s response informative, helpful, and respectable. It shed light on health concerns (no one had previously clarified that it had to do with water – not picnic tables) and state law concerning the treatment of waterfowl. I’m still a little lost on what Radack meant when he said ducks were being eaten, but it is comforting to know actions were investigated.

What does everyone else think?