Is it Legal to Relocate Wild Ducks and Ducklings?

August 28, 2008

Question:Is it legal to relocate wild ducks and ducklings that have taken up residence on your property? (Nancy and Keith C.)

Answer: Wild ducks fall under the jurisdiction of the Migratory Bird Treat Act and you are not supposed to move them without the proper permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

If you can be patient, the best thing to do would be to just leave them alone for now and don’t feed them as this may cause them to want to continue hanging around. Instead, if you can give them a little time until the ducklings get large enough to fly, then the hen and her brood will all likely just pack up and leave on their own for more open water.