Latest news with #MuscovyDuck
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.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Shocking injuries of old man viciously attacked by unlikely beast in stunning coastal Florida town
A Florida community was recently ambushed by a 'vicious' and unlikely beast who left an old man injured. A Muscovy duck recently made its way to a neighborhood in Cape Coral - about four hours outside of Orlando - but the animal was not at all welcoming to its neighbors. James Sepulveda, a resident who has lived in the area since 1998, was left with an injury on his hand after the duck bit him. '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,' he told Fox 4. 'All of a sudden, I felt a jab on my hand and it was bleeding.' Sepulveda wasn't the only one attacked by the duck, as Richard Guy, a neighbor who lives down the street from him, was also targeted. 'I stood up and I made some noises, thinking it would go away, duck, you know, next thing I know, its wings come out you know like it's going to attack me,' Guy told the outlet, showing injuries near his wrist. At one point, the duck, later named Jimmy, even followed Sepulveda into his home. When news first broke of the animal's terrifying behavior, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said Muscovy ducks are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The act prohibits the killing, selling, capturing, trading or transportation of specific birds without prior authorization, according to the agency's website. 'Muscovy ducks are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, but the US Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a Control Order allowing control of Muscovy ducks and their nests and eggs in areas outside their natural range,' FWC told the outlet. The particular ducks are known to inhabit Texas, not the Sunshine State. If they need to be removed, the process has to include them being either humanely killed or donated to scientific or educational institutes, per the agency. After news of Jimmy's actions spread across the community, the terrorizing duck was taken to an animal sanctuary. Mark Quadrozzi with Remarkable Rescues in Ocala took it upon himself to remove the feisty animal from the neighborhood. 'When you have a duck that wants to actually make physical contact with a person like that, but in a way with its beak it's more of a social thing. It's kind of a given that it was hand raised by someone,' the expert told the outlet. After looking around for Jimmy for about an hour, Quadrozzi finally located the animal and quickly realized why it might have been acting out. 'This is a young male. Yes, that's why he's being such a punk,' he said. He believes the duck is about three to four-months-old and was likely hand-raised. Jimmy was placed in a cage and taken to the animal sanctuary to live with other Muscovy ducks. Now, local residents wont have to be on edge when they leave their homes.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Aggressive Muscovy duck leaves Florida neighbors on edge
The Brief A hostile Muscovy duck is attacking Cape Coral residents, with multiple reports of bites and harassment. Removal options are limited due to federal protections and costly trapping requirements. The duck problem extends beyond Cape Coral, with similar incidents across Central Florida. CAPE CORAL, Fla. - A particularly aggressive Muscovy duck is ruffling feathers in one South Florida neighborhood, where residents say the bird has been chasing people, biting hands — and even confronting news crews. What we know Residents in a Cape Coral neighborhood are reporting repeated attacks by a particularly aggressive Muscovy duck, which has taken up residence along their street. The duck has reportedly bitten at least one person, chased others, and even confronted members of the media. Complaints say the bird's behavior has grown more frequent and more aggressive over time. What we don't know Authorities haven't confirmed whether the duck poses a public safety risk serious enough to justify removal by officials. It also remains unclear if any formal action will be taken or whether a trapper will be brought in. Some residents have raised concerns about the financial burden of private removal under state guidelines. The backstory Muscovy ducks, native to parts of Texas, are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. However, they are considered non-native in Florida and can be legally removed under specific conditions. Removal, however, must be humane and typically requires professional services—an added challenge for some residents. Big picture view Cape Coral isn't alone. Communities in Central Florida, such as Oviedo and Winter Park, have also experienced similar issues with Muscovy ducks. These birds can exhibit territorial and aggressive behaviors, particularly in urban areas where human interaction is frequent. Wildlife officials have long cautioned against feeding the ducks, which can encourage bolder behavior. What they're saying James Sepulveda said the duck bit him and his neighbors, even sending one of them to the hospital. "I sit on my porch, around 7 to 7:30 p.m. at this time of the year to catch the sunset," he explained. "I had my eyes closed, all of a sudden I felt a jab on my hand, and it was bleeding." Richard Guy, another resident, described a similar encounter. "I stood up, and I made some noises… next thing I know… it was going to attack me!" The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said property owners may remove Muscovy ducks, but they must be humanely euthanized or transferred to educational or scientific institutions. Still, the process can be expensive. "On a fixed income, I just can't afford to hire a trapper," Sepulveda said. Though the current complaints center on Cape Coral, Muscovy ducks have been known to cause issues in other parts of the state, including Oviedo and Winter Park. "They do harass other animals, other ducks, things like that," said Rachel Snider, who witnessed another aggressive duck at a Seminole County park. For now, locals are doing what they can to coexist with a duck that has proven, in true Florida fashion, to be anything but ordinary. "They'll chase you away from the door of your business, home or around the edges of your house," explained Isaac Rempe, a trapper and wildlife expert. Dig deeper Despite the bird's combative behavior, options for removal are limited. Muscovy ducks are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. However, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service allows for control of the species—including their nests and eggs — outside of their native range, which is limited to parts of Texas. FWC officials urge residents not to feed the ducks and recommend using water hoses to gently deter them if they become aggressive. 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 the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, resident of one Cape Coral neighborhood, and previous reporting by FOX 35 News.
