Florida Neighborhood on Edge After Rage-Filled Feral Duck Repeatedly Attacks Elderly Residents

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6 days ago

An aggressive Muscovy duck has attacked and injured multiple members of a Florida neighborhood, including one who reportedly had to go to the hospital for their injury
Two elderly residents of the neighborhood shared the stories of their attacks with a local outlet
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission "does not remove nuisance Muscovy ducks," residents must do it themselves, and follow specific regulationsYou've heard of Florida Man. Now, meet Florida Duck.
A Florida neighborhood shared it's on guard because of a belligerent duck who has been wandering the streets and displaying aggressive behavior — including an attack that reportedly sent a resident to the hospital.
According to a new report from Fox 4 News, a feral Muscovy duck has been terrorizing the neighborhood in Cape Coral, Fla., with sneak attacks and attempted break-ins.
James Sepulveda, who has been a resident of the neighborhood for nearly three decades, was one of the duck's victims. He recounted the story of the attack to the Florida outlet.
"I sit on my porch, 7 to 7:30 at this time of the year to catch a sunset, you know, some sun, and I had my eyes closed. All of a sudden, I felt a jab on my hand, and it was bleeding," Sepulveda told Fox 4 News. He later showed off his bandaged hand to the outlet.
He also allowed Fox 4 News to film inside his home, where the outlet captured footage of the Muscovy duck threateningly lurking outside his door.
"He's waiting for me," Sepulveda said, cracking the door slightly to reveal the black bird.
Another neighborhood resident, Richard Guy, told Fox 4 News that the feral, feathered critter also attacked him. Guy recalled that he had attempted to scare the animal away before the duck injured him.
"I stood up and I made some noises, thinking it would go away," he told the outlet, adding that "next thing I know, its wings come out, you know, like it's going to attack me."
Reporter Bella Line, a community correspondent for the area, was also chased by the duck after arriving in the neighborhood to interview its residents.
"A Muscovy duck has been chasing people who live on this street, and when they couldn't get the help they needed, they called me, and I saw the duck's rage firsthand," she said.
Sepulveda told Fox 4 News he wants to "get rid" of the duck, noting, "They're actually committing injury to individuals."
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Muscovy ducks like the one terrorizing the residents of the Florida neighborhood are not native to the state, but instead come from "Mexico, Central America, South America, and some parts of Texas."
Due to the problems the ducks can create — including "competition with native species, damage to property, and transmission of disease" — the agency has specific regulations in place for the creatures. However, it cannot eliminate them on the residents' behalf.
"The FWC does not remove nuisance Muscovy ducks," according to the agency's website. "Removal of ducks can be done by the landowner or by a hired nuisance wildlife trapper with landowner permission."
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Muscovy ducks, the FWC told Fox 4 News, "are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, but the US Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a Control Order (USFWS 50 CFR 21.54) allowing control of Muscovy ducks and their nests and eggs in areas outside their natural range."
According to the FWC's website, which includes more information about the specific removal requirements, the ducks can be removed using "humane methods of live capture" like nets or cage traps, or "taken by use of a firearm on private property during daylight hours with landowner permission. "
Read the original article on People