ncboman
06-20-2002, 07:07 AM
http://www.dailyadvance.com/auto/feed/news/2002/06/17/1024326537.01415.7890.0100.html
Wild ducks raise health, safety concerns
By ROBERT SHILES
An exceptionally large increase in the number of wild ducks in Elizabeth City's Summerfield subdivision has sparked complaints that the birds are destroying property and causing potential health problems.
Currently, it's not unusual to find up to 100 ducks swimming in Summerfield's small half-acre drainage pond or roaming in adjacent yards and farmland that border Oak Stump Road. And while some residents enjoy having the birds as part of their community, others have complained to local wildlife and law enforcement officials that the ducks are a nuisance and should be removed.
"These are wild mallard ducks," notes Pasquotank County Sheriff Randy Cartwright, "and the problem is no one claims to own them. ... Everyone just feeds them."
Cartwright said Elizabeth City has an ordinance requiring that owners of any kind of poultry keep their birds penned on private property. He added that if anyone would claim the ducks in Summerfield and pen them up, the presence of the birds in the subdivision would probably not be an issue.
The sheriff said there is evidence that the huge number of ducks is causing property damage and creating an environment that could spread disease both among ducks and humans. Flower beds and shrubbery have been destroyed, crops eaten, ducks injured and killed by vehicles on Oak Stump Road, and large amounts of feces deposited in both the pond and on surrounding property, Cartwright said.
In response to the increased duck population, some residents have allegedly taken to shooting guns at the birds in an effort to drive them away from their property. This action has created even more concerns — especially for safety of children and others who visit the pond.
"Every evening there are people down there feeding the ducks," said Jane Taylor, who owns property adjacent to the pond. "Some child is going to get hit with a bullet or pellet."
Knowing someone may fire a shot in the direction of her property, Taylor said, makes her fearful of sitting on her patio at night or working in her garden. She said a couple of ducks have died recently as a result of being shot.
Cartwright said he's aware of one bird killed by a pellet, but has seen no evidence of anyone shooting at the ducks with a rifle. He said it's illegal to shoot any kind of firearms within city limits, and he has informed residents of the law.
Taylor emphasized that she can't understand why people are so upset about the ducks. Most of the complaints, she added, aren't coming from residents of Summerfield. They are coming from property owners along Oak Stump Road.
"Very few of any complaints are coming from those in the subdivision," she said. "And seldom do any of the ducks go onto any of the farmland."
"People claim they eat everything," she said. "But I have more vegetables growing in my yard than I've ever had. I don't know of anyone in the subdivision that is complaining about the ducks eating their plants."
But Cartwright said complaints about the ducks have been made to local and state wildlife officials for two years, and he personally has been involved in the controversy for the past month.
"Everyone has a right to protect their land," the sheriff said. "I've been trying to find a way to protect both the people's land and address health concerns."
Cartwright said Thursday that the situation has now escalated to the point where the ducks are going to be removed "one way or another." He has applied for a federal permit that will allow the birds to be removed and relocated to a more suitable, natural environment. However, the permit also specifies that if the birds cannot be netted and successfully removed they must be "euthanized."
"I don't want to kill the ducks. Personally, I like ducks," said Cartwright. "I'm putting calls out to find a safe place where they can be taken and where they will be cared for."
The sheriff added that any location the ducks are taken must be a significant distance away from Elizabeth City or they will just fly back. Locations under consideration include Hyde and Tyrrell counties.
Cartwright said he expects the federal permit, that's being issued from Atlanta, will arrive sometime this week. Attempts will then be made to net the ducks and move them to a new home.
"Actually, this will be the best for the ducks," he said. "By feeding them, the people that say they love the ducks are hurting them the most. Feeding them breaks them out of their natural feeding patterns, and they can no longer survive when they have to find their own food."
© 2002 Cox Newspapers, Inc.
Wild ducks raise health, safety concerns
By ROBERT SHILES
An exceptionally large increase in the number of wild ducks in Elizabeth City's Summerfield subdivision has sparked complaints that the birds are destroying property and causing potential health problems.
Currently, it's not unusual to find up to 100 ducks swimming in Summerfield's small half-acre drainage pond or roaming in adjacent yards and farmland that border Oak Stump Road. And while some residents enjoy having the birds as part of their community, others have complained to local wildlife and law enforcement officials that the ducks are a nuisance and should be removed.
"These are wild mallard ducks," notes Pasquotank County Sheriff Randy Cartwright, "and the problem is no one claims to own them. ... Everyone just feeds them."
Cartwright said Elizabeth City has an ordinance requiring that owners of any kind of poultry keep their birds penned on private property. He added that if anyone would claim the ducks in Summerfield and pen them up, the presence of the birds in the subdivision would probably not be an issue.
The sheriff said there is evidence that the huge number of ducks is causing property damage and creating an environment that could spread disease both among ducks and humans. Flower beds and shrubbery have been destroyed, crops eaten, ducks injured and killed by vehicles on Oak Stump Road, and large amounts of feces deposited in both the pond and on surrounding property, Cartwright said.
In response to the increased duck population, some residents have allegedly taken to shooting guns at the birds in an effort to drive them away from their property. This action has created even more concerns — especially for safety of children and others who visit the pond.
"Every evening there are people down there feeding the ducks," said Jane Taylor, who owns property adjacent to the pond. "Some child is going to get hit with a bullet or pellet."
Knowing someone may fire a shot in the direction of her property, Taylor said, makes her fearful of sitting on her patio at night or working in her garden. She said a couple of ducks have died recently as a result of being shot.
Cartwright said he's aware of one bird killed by a pellet, but has seen no evidence of anyone shooting at the ducks with a rifle. He said it's illegal to shoot any kind of firearms within city limits, and he has informed residents of the law.
Taylor emphasized that she can't understand why people are so upset about the ducks. Most of the complaints, she added, aren't coming from residents of Summerfield. They are coming from property owners along Oak Stump Road.
"Very few of any complaints are coming from those in the subdivision," she said. "And seldom do any of the ducks go onto any of the farmland."
"People claim they eat everything," she said. "But I have more vegetables growing in my yard than I've ever had. I don't know of anyone in the subdivision that is complaining about the ducks eating their plants."
But Cartwright said complaints about the ducks have been made to local and state wildlife officials for two years, and he personally has been involved in the controversy for the past month.
"Everyone has a right to protect their land," the sheriff said. "I've been trying to find a way to protect both the people's land and address health concerns."
Cartwright said Thursday that the situation has now escalated to the point where the ducks are going to be removed "one way or another." He has applied for a federal permit that will allow the birds to be removed and relocated to a more suitable, natural environment. However, the permit also specifies that if the birds cannot be netted and successfully removed they must be "euthanized."
"I don't want to kill the ducks. Personally, I like ducks," said Cartwright. "I'm putting calls out to find a safe place where they can be taken and where they will be cared for."
The sheriff added that any location the ducks are taken must be a significant distance away from Elizabeth City or they will just fly back. Locations under consideration include Hyde and Tyrrell counties.
Cartwright said he expects the federal permit, that's being issued from Atlanta, will arrive sometime this week. Attempts will then be made to net the ducks and move them to a new home.
"Actually, this will be the best for the ducks," he said. "By feeding them, the people that say they love the ducks are hurting them the most. Feeding them breaks them out of their natural feeding patterns, and they can no longer survive when they have to find their own food."
© 2002 Cox Newspapers, Inc.