Ducks

Homeowner, rental or HOA

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Do not feed ducks. Feeding encourages large congregations, increases the potential for disease, and can lead to property damage. Bread products are not beneficial to ducks and can harm their digestive system or cause wing deformities.
• Limit access to ponds, decorative water features, or low, pooling water that can attract ducks by maintaining proper drainage.

Around home

• Remove or secure bird food and spilled seed that may attract ducks.
• Sturdy fencing with 3-inch or smaller holes can help protect gardens and landscaped areas from waterfowl foraging.
• Use temporary fencing or netting to keep ducks out of gardens and landscaped areas.
• Do not feed ducks bread or other human food. Bread provides no nutritional value, can lead to malnutrition, physical deformities that hinder flight, and increased disease from excessive droppings.

Pets and livestock

• Keep dogs leashed or fenced to avoid chasing or injuring ducks. Chasing ducks can lead to injuries for both the dog and the birds.
• Do not allow pets access to active duck nests. Ducks may become defensive if approached too closely. Intentional disturbance of duck nests is illegal under state law and the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
• Ducks can carry disease that is lethal to poultry and domestic waterfowl. Keep poultry and other birds away from areas where ducks frequent.
• Avoid attracting ducks by ensuring feed for your domestic birds is not accessible to ducks.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Eliminating access to food and limiting attractive water sources are the best ways to reduce duck conflicts.
• If ducks are nesting close to your home, avoid disturbing the nest. Most nests hatch within a month, and broods typically leave the area shortly afterward.
• Various duck deterrents, such as motion-activated sprinklers or repellants, are available from retailers. However, their effectiveness is often brief, and alternative methods may need to be used.
• If ducks become habituated to a specific area, hazing (such as waving arms, clapping, or other gentle disturbances) can encourage them to move on. Do not haze ducks that are actively nesting or caring for young.
• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of ducks other than for permitted research.
• If you found an injured duck or a duckling that you believe it’s mother is dead, you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.

Lethal methods

• All native wild ducks are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Lethal removal is not allowed unless authorized under a valid federal depredation permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
• If ducks are causing or likely to cause property damage, contact a nuisance animal control company or local DNR Wildlife Division office to discuss if a depredation permit is applicable based on your location and situation. Lethal removal of ducks may not be suitable in all situations and can only occur after a permit is issued.
• In areas where hunting is allowed, ducks may be taken during the established duck hunting season by persons holding a hunting license, state waterfowl hunting license, and federal duck stamp.

Local government

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Educate residents about the harms of feeding ducks and encourage proper disposal of food waste. Feeding encourages large congregations of ducks, increases the potential for disease, and can lead to property damage. Bread products are not beneficial to geese and can harm their digestive system or cause wing deformities.
• Limit access to ponds, decorative water features, or low, pooling water that can attract ducks by maintaining proper drainage.

Your community

• Implement ordinances and enforcement that prohibit feeding ducks and other wildlife that may cause problems.
• Ensure stormwater systems function properly to minimize standing water that can attract ducks.

Public spaces

• Install signage in public areas instructing visitors not to feed waterfowl.
• Use fencing or dense vegetation barriers to prevent duck access to sensitive landscaped areas in parks and other areas.

Pets and livestock

• Require visitors to keep dogs leashed or fenced in public areas to avoid chasing or injuring ducks. Chasing ducks can lead to injuries for both the dog and the birds.
• Educate residents about preventing pet access to active duck nests. Ducks may become defensive if approached too closely. Intentional disturbance of duck nests is illegal under state law and the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
• Ducks can carry disease that is lethal to poultry and domestic waterfowl. Keep poultry and other birds away from areas where ducks frequent.
• Avoid attracting ducks by ensuring feed for your domestic birds is not accessible to ducks.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Discourage duck use of sensitive public spaces by reducing food sources, limiting access to water, and using hazing methods where safe and appropriate.
• If ducks begin loafing or nesting in inappropriate areas, block access under boardwalks, docks, or structures using sturdy fencing or boards.
• Various duck deterrents, such as motion-activated sprinklers or repellants, are available from retailers. However, their effectiveness is often brief, and alternative methods may need to be used.
• If ducks fall into window wells or enclosed pits, place a rough board at an angle to allow them to exit.
• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of ducks other than for permitted research.
• If someone finds an injured duck or a duckling that they believe it’s mother is dead, they can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.

Lethal methods

• All native wild ducks are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Lethal removal is not allowed unless authorized under a valid federal depredation permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
• If ducks are causing or likely to cause property damage, contact a nuisance animal control company or local DNR Wildlife Division office to discuss if a depredation permit is applicable based on your location and situation. Lethal removal of ducks may not be suitable in all situations and can only occur after a permit is issued.
• In areas where hunting is allowed, ducks may be taken during the established duck hunting season by persons holding a hunting license, state waterfowl hunting license, and federal duck stamp.
• If interested in implementing a duck management program in your jurisdiction, contact a local DNR Wildlife Division office for guidance.

Business or school

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Educate staff and students about the harms of feeding ducks and encourage proper disposal of cafeteria waste. Feeding encourages large congregations of ducks, increases the potential for disease, and can lead to property damage. Bread products are not beneficial to geese and can harm their digestive system or cause wing deformities.
• Encourage grounds staff to limit access to ponds, decorative water features, or low, pooling water that can attract ducks by maintaining proper drainage.

Grounds

• Use messaging and signage in outdoor areas instructing people not to feed ducks.
• Have grounds staff use fencing or dense vegetation barriers to prevent duck access to sensitive landscaped areas.
• Ensure outdoor eating areas are cleaned promptly and food waste is secured.
• Maintain proper drainage around buildings to minimize pooling water that can attract ducks.

Pets and livestock

• Require dogs to be kept leashed or fenced to avoid chasing or injuring ducks. Chasing ducks can lead to injuries for both the dog and the birds.
• Prevent dog access to active duck nests. Ducks may become defensive if approached too closely. Intentional disturbance of duck nests is illegal under state law and the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
• Ducks can carry disease that is lethal to poultry and domestic waterfowl. Keep poultry and other birds away from areas where ducks frequent.
• Avoid attracting ducks by ensuring feed for your domestic birds is not accessible to ducks.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Discourage duck use of the business or school grounds by reducing food sources, limiting access to water, and using hazing methods where safe and appropriate.
• If ducks begin loafing or nesting in inappropriate areas, block access under boardwalks, docks, or structures using sturdy fencing or boards.
• Various duck deterrents, such as motion-activated sprinklers or repellants, are available from retailers. However, their effectiveness is often brief, and alternative methods may need to be used.
• If ducks fall into window wells or enclosed pits, place a rough board at an angle to allow them to exit.
• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of ducks other than for permitted research.
• If someone finds an injured duck or a duckling that they believe it’s mother is dead, they can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.

Lethal methods

• All native wild ducks are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Lethal removal is not allowed unless authorized under a valid federal depredation permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
• If ducks are causing or likely to cause property damage, contact a nuisance animal control company or local DNR Wildlife Division office to discuss if a depredation permit is applicable based on your location and situation. Lethal removal of ducks may not be suitable in all situations and can only occur after a permit is issued.

Agriculture

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Do not intentionally feed ducks. Feeding encourages large congregations, increases the potential for disease, and can lead to property damage.
• Maintain drainage systems to reduce standing water that can attract ducks to fields.

Your farm or orchard

• Use temporary fencing or netting to protect young crops in high-conflict areas.
• Discourage ducks using equipment yards or storage areas by minimizing water and food resources, especially spilled grain or livestock feed.

Pets and livestock

• Keep dogs leashed or fenced away from ponds and pastures to avoid chasing or injuring ducks. Chasing ducks can cause severe stress and potentially lead to injuries for both the dog and the birds.
• Do not allow pets access to active duck nests. Ducks may become defensive if approached too closely. Intentional disturbance of duck nests is illegal under state law and the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
• Ducks can carry disease that is lethal to poultry and domestic waterfowl. Keep poultry and other birds away from areas where ducks frequent.
• Avoid attracting ducks by ensuring feed for your domestic birds is not accessible to ducks.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Deter ducks from eating sprouting crops near low spots in fields by using precision agricultural practices or using proper drainage practices.
• Temporary fencing, flagging, or motion-activated deterrents may reduce duck use of vulnerable crops.
• Ducks can be deterred from using fields with hazing, such as driving vehicles around the field and making loud noises with devices like an air horn.
• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of ducks other than for permitted research.
• If you found an injured duck or a duckling that you believe it’s mother is dead, you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.

Lethal methods

• All native wild ducks are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Lethal removal is not allowed unless authorized under a valid federal depredation permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
• If ducks are causing or likely to cause property damage, contact a nuisance animal control company or local DNR Wildlife Division office to discuss if a depredation permit is applicable based on your location and situation. Lethal removal of ducks may not be suitable in all situations and can only occur after a permit is issued.
• In areas where hunting is allowed, ducks may be taken during the established duck hunting season by persons holding a hunting license, state waterfowl hunting license, and federal duck stamp.

Airport

Prevent problems

Food attractants

• Educate staff and visitors about the harms of feeding ducks and encourage proper disposal of cafeteria waste. Feeding encourages large congregations of ducks, increases the potential for disease, and can increase risk of conflicts.
• Encourage grounds staff to limit access to ponds or low, pooling water that can attract ducks by maintaining proper drainage.

Around buildings

• Install signage in public areas instructing staff and visitors not to feed ducks and other wildlife.
• Use fencing or dense vegetation barriers to prevent duck access to landscaping or other sensitive areas.
• Ensure stormwater systems function properly to minimize standing water that can attract ducks.
• Check buildings and hangars for areas where ducks might enter or nest and block access as needed.

Airfields

• Maintain short vegetation to reduce duck loafing and nesting opportunities.
• Limit standing water on or near runways, taxiways, and infield areas to reduce duck attraction.
• Use hazing and human presence to discourage ducks from settling on airfields when safe to do so.

Pets and livestock

• Require staff and visitors to keep dogs leashed or fenced to avoid chasing or injuring ducks. Chasing ducks can lead to injuries for both the dog and the birds and increase risk of bird strikes.
• Educate staff about preventing dog access to active duck nests. Ducks may become defensive if approached too closely. Intentional disturbance of duck nests is illegal under state law and the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
• Ducks can carry disease that is lethal to poultry and domestic waterfowl. Keep poultry and other birds away from areas where ducks frequent.
• Avoid attracting ducks by ensuring feed for your domestic birds is not accessible to ducks.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Reducing access to food and standing water is the most effective approach to reduce duck presence.
• Various duck deterrents, such as motion-activated sprinklers or repellants, are available from retailers. However, their effectiveness is often brief, and alternative methods may need to be used.
• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of ducks other than for permitted research.
• If you found an injured duck or a duckling that you believe it’s mother is dead, you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.

Lethal methods

• All native wild ducks are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Lethal removal is not allowed unless authorized under a valid federal depredation permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
• If ducks are causing or likely to cause property damage, contact a nuisance animal control company or local DNR Wildlife Division office to discuss if a depredation permit is applicable based on your location and situation. Lethal removal of ducks may not be suitable in all situations and can only occur after a permit is issued.