Ducks outstay their welcome!

[Peter Burrett]

Hello.

We have a small wildlife pond in our garden. Last year the pond was discovered by a group of mallard ducks. The one female in the group finally paired up with one particular drake, although they nested elsewhere.

All lovely to start with, but this year the larger group of ducks are back and we want rid of them! They make a mess around the pond edge, trample our planting and knock over our fountain.

Could anyone advise how to clear them from our garden, without hurting them? I've tried chasing them until they fly away, but they are soon back.

Thank you.

Pete

 

[brokensword]

I'm going to go with 'net the pond'; good to keep out herons and hawks, too!

 

[Peter Burrett]

I'm going to go with 'net the pond'; good to keep out herons and hawks, too!

Thank you!

 

[j.w]

Yep I agree a net is the only thing that worked for me. Mine is up higher on posts hanging down attached to a short wire fence all the way around. It is now Fort Knox!

 

[Mmathis]

Agree with netting!

 

[Lisak1]

We were able to discourage a nesting pair of Mallard ducks by chasing them off every day, multiple times per day. That worked last spring when we were home all the time... not sure what we'll do if they return this year! A good dog can help as well - they aren't interested in being chased by a barking hound!

 

[addy1]

I had them land in the pond one time, net is torn, but they did not stay around.

My new net came so now need to go out and net the two ponds with fish. The herons love flying over the pond and checking it out.

 

[BKHpondcritters]

We were able to discourage a nesting pair of Mallard ducks by chasing them off every day, multiple times per day. That worked last spring when we were home all the time... not sure what we'll do if they return this year! A good dog can help as well - they aren't interested in being chased by a barking hound!

We had a pair in our IL pond one year & we did our darndest to run them off. Our dog was uninterested in chasing them but she liked to fetch tennis balls, so we would throw her ball at the ducks, then she would inadvertently chase them in the process. It didn't really work, and they ended up building a nest in our garden. Sadly, a raccoon got at the nest & Mrs. Mallard. I was not sorry that we never had another pair - the entire thing was too exhausting.

 

[Lisak1]

We were extremely persistent in our quest to move them along. They left the pond alone finally and moved to the front of the house and build a nest under an evergreen tree. Laid 12 eggs. Racoon found them and that was the end of that story.

They hung out with us the previous spring and we were so excited to see them swimming on the pond... then our fish started dying of what we suspect was a parasite that was introduced to the pond by those same ducks. So we got smart and did our darndest to make sure it didn't happen again! Like I said - that was a simpler task last spring when I was working from home. This year will be a bit tougher if they return!

 

[Corgi Mom]

Nets for me didn’t work. They kept tearing it by landing on it and trying to snuggle in and get to the water. And nets aren’t cheap. They even figured out how to get under it! My dog helps but only for a Short time. Ducks are very determined. I’ve read to keep beach balls floating on the top but never tried it.