Latest news with #MarkQuadrozzi
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
'Finally We Got Him!': 'Punk' Duck Nabbed After Terrorizing Florida Community
A Florida community can breathe easy now that a local rogue known for stalking and attacking residents has been apprehended. Jimmy, a Muscovy duck, was captured this week in the Cape Coral neighborhood he had held hostage by his acts of terror. Prior to being caught, Jimmy had attacked multiple people, local news station Fox 4 Now reported earlier this month. Neighborhood resident James Sepulveda described sitting on his porch, 'eyes closed,' when he suddenly 'felt a jab' on his hand and realized Jimmy had bitten him and drawn blood. In video footage from the news outlet, Sepulveda can be seen opening his door a crack to see Jimmy standing just outside. The man then says the duck is 'waiting' for him. Jimmy even chased Fox 4 reporter Bella Line while she attempted to report on his misdeeds. Muscovy ducks are native to Central and South America, Mexico and some parts of Texas. While the ducks are seen in the wild throughout Florida, they are a non-native species in the state. It's legal in Florida to capture 'nuisance' Muscovy ducks, but illegal to release them back to the wild because they can 'can transmit diseases to or interbreed with Florida's native waterfowl,' according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. After Jimmy's story went viral, animal rescuer Mark Quadrozzi of Remarkable Rescues stepped up with a solution that would work for humans and duck alike. This week, Quadrozzi managed to catch Jimmy and relocate him to his animal sanctuary more than 200 miles away in Ocala, where the bird can join a flock of other Muscovy ducks. Sepulveda was thrilled with the news. 'Finally we got him!' he said, per Fox 35 Orlando. The news outlet noted that it wasn't clear whether Jimmy was the only unruly duck in the area, or if others could remain. Quadrozzi believes that Jimmy, who is about 3 to 4 months old, was probably raised by people and abandoned. He also said the duck's age and sex explain a lot about his behavior. 'This is a young male,' Quadrozzi told Fox 4. 'Yes, and that's why he's being such a punk.' School Clears Out Its Halls Each Year To Help Duck Family Get Home Oldest Known Wild Bird Has Been Spotted Again — And She's Got A New Boyfriend Bald Eagle Feared Injured Deemed Simply 'Too Fat To Fly'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Feisty duck relocated after ruffling feathers in Florida neighborhood
The Brief A young Muscovy duck known for aggressive behavior was removed from a Cape Coral neighborhood. Animal rescuers relocated the hand-raised duck, now named Jimmy, to an Ocala sanctuary. Locals expressed relief, calling the bird and others like it "vicious." OCALA, Fla. - A Muscovy duck that gained internet fame for terrorizing a Cape Coral neighborhood has found a new home in Central Florida. What we know A Muscovy duck that was reportedly harassing residents in a Cape Coral neighborhood has been safely captured and relocated to an animal sanctuary in Ocala. The duck, now named "Jimmy," was taken in by Mark Quadrozzi of Remarkable Rescues after gaining viral attention on social media for its aggressive behavior. Quadrozzi estimates Jimmy is three to four months old and was likely hand-raised. What we don't know It remains unclear who originally raised or released the duck in the Cape Coral neighborhood. Officials have not confirmed whether other aggressive ducks remain in the area or if any future wildlife removal plans are in place. The backstory Residents in the neighborhood had been dealing with the duck's hostile behavior for some time, with reports of people being pecked and chased. Male Muscovy ducks are known to be more aggressive than females, which may explain the confrontations. Once the story aired and video footage spread online, it attracted the attention of animal rescuers. Big picture view Though native to Central and South America, Muscovy ducks are commonly found in Florida, where their presence sometimes leads to friction with the locals. After a local news story aired and footage of the feisty duck spread on social media, an animal sanctuary in Ocala stepped in to relocate the bird. Mark Quadrozzi with Remarkable Rescues drove to Cape Coral and successfully captured the duck, which has since been named "Jimmy." "You're just kind of at the mercy of what they're going to do that day," Quadrozzi said of the unpredictable behavior of Muscovy ducks. "Even if somebody knows a particular animal's schedule from their observations, each day." It took more than an hour of searching before the young male duck, estimated to be about three to four months old, was safely taken into custody. Quadrozzi believes Jimmy was likely raised by humans. "When you have a duck that actually wants to make physical contact with a person like that, but in a way with its beak, that's more of a social thing, it's kind of a given that it was hand raised by someone," he said. Residents in the neighborhood have reported injuries and aggressive behavior, particularly from male Muscovy ducks, which Quadrozzi says are generally less gentle than females. Cape Coral resident James Sepulveda expressed relief over the removal. "Finally we got him!" he said. "But I'm happy they are getting rid of ducks in this area, because they are vicious." What's next The duck will take up residence among other Muscovy ducks at the Ocala sanctuary. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by Mark Quadrozzi with Remarkable Rescues, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and resident of Cape Coral.
