Muscovy ducks are a type of wild waterfowl that are known for being quite persistent when it comes to setting up residence in new locations. While some people enjoy seeing these large ducks with their distinctive red facial markings, red wattles, and hissing sounds, Muscovy ducks can quickly become a nuisance for property owners due to their messiness, aggressiveness, and tendency to damage gardens and landscaping. If Muscovy ducks have moved into your yard, you have likely found yourself wondering how to get rid of them humanely and legally while also preventing more from returning in the future. This article will provide an overview of Muscovy duck behavior, explain why deterrents rarely work for long against them, discuss lethal and non-lethal control options, and give recommendations to help you keep Muscovy ducks off your property for good.
Muscovy Duck Behavior
To understand how to deter Muscovy ducks, it helps to know a little bit about their background and normal habits. Muscovy ducks originate from Mexico, Central America, and South America. They were introduced in certain areas of the United States, such as Florida, Texas, and California, in the 1970s due to escapes or releases from private collections and farms. These ducks are able to breed year-round in warm climates, so their populations grew quickly. Their numbers have also increased due to a lack of natural predators. Muscovy ducks are less migratory than other duck species – they tend to live year-round in the same general region where there is a reliable source of food and water.
Some key facts about Muscovy duck behavior include:
- They prefer to roost in trees at night and seek out ponds, lakes, canals, retention ponds, and other water sources during the day.
- They are aggressive around food sources and will chase other ducks or geese away from feed.
- Muscovy ducks have sharp claws on their feet that enable them to perch on trees, nest boxes, roofs, and other elevated surfaces.
- The females lay large clutches of eggs (up to 16) in cavities or nest boxes.
- They nest in a variety of sites including tree cavities, palm fronds, chimneys, and abandoned cars or machinery.
- Muscovy ducks thrive in suburban areas because they have access to food, water, and shelter.
Understanding how Muscovy ducks live allows you to identify what is attracting them to your property so you can restrict their access to food, water, and shelter as part of your control strategy.
Why Deterrents Alone Don’t Work
When faced with an influx of Muscovy ducks, most people first try various deterrents in hopes of scaring the birds away humanely without needing to resort to lethal control methods. However, there are some key reasons why deterrents aimed at frightening Muscovy ducks typically do not work well for ongoing control:
They Habituate Quickly
Muscovy ducks tend to become accustomed to most sounds and devices very quickly. The ducks may initially be startled by loud noises, sprinklers, predator decoys, lasers, and other deterrents, but they soon realize the stimuli are not actual threats and then ignore them. Using multiple different deterrents at random intervals may work for a bit longer, but Muscovy ducks will eventually habituate to the various deterrents.
Persistence in Favorable Areas
Even when frightened frequently, Muscovy ducks are persistent about remaining in locations that offer what they need to survive – food, water, and safe roosting spaces. Since they are not migratory, they are determined to stick close to their established home range. As natural predators are scarce, the ducks do not have enough pressure to cause them to permanently abandon prime habitat.
Large Population Size
There are often dozens of Muscovy ducks occupying an area. When deterrents are used, some of the ducks may temporarily leave while others remain. The ducks that were scared away eventually return. And deterrents become less effective as duck numbers increase.
Ability to Nest/Roost in Hidden Sites
Muscovy ducks are able to find nesting and roosting spots on roofs, in trees, under decks, and in other concealed sites where they cannot be reached by deterrents. The ducks emerge from their hidden shelters to feed then return to them, so the deterrents only affect them during a portion of the day.
Drawn to Revisit Locations
Muscovy ducks appear to have good site fidelity and recollection of areas where they have previously found food and successfully nested and roosted. This means the ducks have a tendency to revisit locations repeatedly, even if deterrents were used against them in the past.
For these reasons, relying solely on deterrents or harassment to repel Muscovy ducks rarely succeeds as a long-term solution. Prolonged use of multiple integrated lethal and non-lethal control techniques is needed to discourage Muscovy duck presence.
Lethal Muscovy Duck Control Methods
While initially unpleasant to consider, sustained lethal control of the Muscovy duck population is usually necessary to resolve a substantial Muscovy duck problem. Lethal control removes large numbers of ducks at once and takes advantage of their strong site fidelity – removing the ducks that already know your property is a good place to reside removes that learned behavior from the local population. There are several lethal control options to consider:
Hunting
Hunting is one of the primary traditional methods used to manage wildlife populations. Check your state and local laws – in some areas, Muscovy ducks are considered an invasive species or nuisance animal and can be hunted with few restrictions. However, in other localities, there may be hunting seasons, bag limits, permit requirements, or firearm discharge bans that apply. Always check regulations before discharging any firearms.
Removal by Permit
Certain state wildlife agencies issue permits allowing property owners or their agents to trap and humanely euthanize Muscovy ducks. Permits may be general or apply on a case-by-case basis depending on the extent of the problem. They help control populations while also ensuring oversight of lethal control activities.
Removal by Pest Control Companies
Professional pest control companies can be contracted to capture and euthanize Muscovy ducks on private property as a paid service. They have access to proper equipment and training to accomplish safe, effective, and humane duck removal.
Toxicants
No toxicants (poisons) are currently approved and legally available for use against Muscovy ducks in the United States. So this control method is not applicable. However, it is included here for completeness.
Cervical Dislocation
Wringing the neck by quickly dislocating the cervical vertebrae is an approved method of euthanasia for waterfowl by organizations like the American Veterinary Medical Association. However, the method requires getting hands-on with each duck, so it is not practical for large-scale use.
As can be seen, there are options for lethally removing Muscovy ducks by different means. The most viable methods typically require expertise, so removal is often best left to professionals. Lethal control works best when paired with non-lethal techniques in an integrated control strategy.
Non-Lethal Muscovy Duck Deterrents
While non-lethal deterrents alone rarely solve significant Muscovy duck problems, they can be a helpful part of an integrated control plan. Deterrents work by making your property as unwelcoming as possible to decrease the local Muscovy population over time. Combining multiple deterrents is best to frighten the ducks in different ways and prevent habituation. Here are some recommended deterrent options:
Exclusion
Physically blocking Muscovy duck access to attractive areas of your property is the most effective deterrent. Use fencing, netting, wires, visual barriers, roost spikes, ramps, and other exclusion methods. Key areas to exclude Muscovy ducks from include:
- Ponds, birdbaths, fountains, swimming pools
- Docks and shorelines
- Roosting sites like trees, rafters, ledges, and nest boxes
- Feeders and food waste areas
Harassment & Scaring
Frightening devices help make your property uncomfortable and scary for ducks but take diligence to implement:
- Motion activated sprinklers and water sprayers
- Predator decoys (dogs, alligators, snakes)
- Reflective ribbons, balls, flags
- Noisemakers like propane cannons, clappers, air horns
- Lasers and ultrasonic devices
Use multiple devices at random intervals to prevent habituation. Combine with shooting paintballs or shooting firearms for additional reinforcement.
Aversive Conditioning
You can train ducks to dislike an area through consistent harassment whenever they enter it. For instance, install motion detectors that trigger sprinklers so ducks learn to avoid that zone. Or apply mild electric shocks via electrified tracks – ducks will learn locations to stay away from.
Repellents
Topical repellents make lawns, landscaping and water surfaces unappetizing. Options include:
- Anthraquinone-based repellent sprays
- Methyl anthranilate-based fogging formulas
- Plant-derived area repellents like garlic or cinnamon oil
- Tactile repellents like tacky gels or turf spiked with prickles
Reapply repellents frequently as they break down over time. Use in key feeding and loafing areas.
Habitat Modification
Alter your property’s landscape to be less attractive. For instance:
- Remove fallen fruits, seeds, and refuse that may serve as food sources
- Let grass around ponds and lakes grow tall to obscure water visibility
- Trim back tree branches and remove roosting/nesting boxes
- Eliminate suitable nesting cavities like openings in sheds, garages, or under decks
- Discourage feed sources by managing crops, gardens, and pet food properly
Without ideal food, water, and shelter sites, duck numbers should decline over time.
Population Control
As discussed in the lethal control section, directly lowering the Muscovy duck numbers through permitted trapping or hunting helps reduce the frequency of return visits and learned population knowledge about your property’s resources.
Integrated Muscovy Duck Deterrence Program
For optimal prevention of Muscovy ducks on your land, it is best to implement an integrated multi-option program consisting of both lethal and non-lethal control techniques. An aggressive integrated approach is harder for the ducks to overcome and habituate to. Here are the key components of an effective integrated Muscovy duck control plan:
Initial Lethal Population Reduction
Begin with intensive lethal removal of Muscovy ducks per local laws and regulations to quickly reduce overall numbers. Consider hiring trained wildlife control professionals to capture and humanely euthanize ducks. Lethal control is especially critical because the remaining ducks will be harder to deter once their group size is smaller.
Install Physical Barriers
Conduct an inspection to locate key areas used by the ducks for feeding, water access, nesting, and loafing. Then install fencing, netting, frames with wire, electronic barriers, roost spikes, ramps, visual screens, and other physical barriers to deny duck entry to these areas. Maintain the exclusion devices diligently.
Continue Lethal Follow Up
Use periodic lethal control as needed to counter Muscovy duck attempts to return. Focus lethal removal on ducks exhibiting site fidelity to your property. Consider employing a pest control company to provide ongoing lethal control services.
Harassment and Scaring
Install motion activated devices like sprinklers, noisemakers, and lasers strategically around your property. Manually activate other harassment techniques like paintball guns, air horns, water spraying, etc. frequently when ducks are observed to make them uncomfortable. Use a variety of different deterrents so ducks do not get accustomed.
Apply Repellents
Treat lawns, landscaping, and water edges with taste or tactile repellent sprays as needed per label instructions to discourage grazing and swimming. Reapply frequently for best results.
Modify Habitat and Food Sources
Initiate habitat modification where feasible to reduce food availability, block nesting spots, allow grass to grow tall, and make your property less hospitable overall. Manage pet food, crops, refuse, and ponds properly to avoid attracting ducks.
Continue Exclusion Maintenance
Monitor exclusion barriers and devices regularly and perform needed repairs, replacements, or trimming promptly to ensure Muscovy ducks cannot gain access. Vegetation growth may require occasional trimming or removal around fence lines.
Ask Neighbors to Help Deter Ducks
Talk to nearby homeowners about the Muscovy duck problems and request their cooperation. They can help deter ducks by modifying habitat, managing food sources, and installing barriers and harassment devices on their land. Getting whole neighborhoods involved leads to broader Muscovy duck reduction.
With repeated implementation of these integrated control techniques, you can successfully discourage Muscovy ducks from residing and feeding on your property. Be aware that it requires consistent effort and monitoring over a sustained period to see the maximum impact. Patience and perseverance are needed to overcome the Muscovy duck’s strong site fidelity and habit of returning to locations they have lived at before. But over time, an aggressive integrated control plan can eliminate their bothersome presence.
Conclusion
Muscovy ducks can be a challenging waterfowl species to dissuade from inhabiting your land due to their stubborn and aggressive nature. Simple harassment or occasional deterrent use often fails to provide adequate long-term relief from problems like droppings, damaged vegetation, aggression toward people, and a continuous influx of ducks. Integrating multiple lethal and non-lethal control techniques in a sustained program provides the best strategy. Reducing the local Muscovy duck population through intensive initial culling, exclusion barriers, habitat modification, scaring devices, repellents, and follow up lethal control keeps numbers low while prompting remaining ducks to seek calmer waters elsewhere. With a well-planned and properly executed integrated control plan enacted over the long term, you can successfully reclaim your property for yourself and keep Muscovy duck visitations to a minimum.