Problem with ducks
 

I'm inundated with ducks on the beach and dock. What can I do to get them to leave. I'm afraid if they stay, we'll get duck itch. There are two or three new families with their ducklings.

Wifi makes note to himself: Need to invent a Duck/Geese scarecrow

You can purchase a device that hooks up to your garden hose. It looks like a big crow and has a motion sensor attached to it. When the ducks trip the motion sensor it shoots a loud and surprising burst of water that could scare them off. The ducks will spoon be discouraged from loitering in the area.

I am not sure if it works but I have seen people put out "dock owls"....a fake owl that keeps the waterfowl away. You could also try one of the coyote decoys that I see on some golf courses. Or a favorite solution...buy a dog:liplick:

I tried two of the devices you hook up to the water hoses, a fake owl who turns his head, the coyote and other things. Of course this was for the geese not the ducks, but nothing except a fence worked at all. Actually the plastic swans floating worked for a while until the geese figured out they wouldn't bother them. The damn geese just swim around everything.

Invite some friends over and fire up the grill.

I used oneof those owls once.....had a pigeon problem and put it on the roof to scare them away .
Next day I rode by and they were still there and one of them was actually sitting on the owls head.
Think they were laughing at me:laugh:

An energetic dog will chase them away. Ours goes nuts when a duck gets close to the beach. In spite of the dog not going in the water (he hates it),
the ducks skedaddle.

mmmmm,
 

Buy a jetski

yup
 

I see what you did there!!


ToW

A few years ago I visited a friend in California. When we went up to his flat roof I noticed several fake owls laying on their sides. When I asked him about it he said that he had a bad problem with birds and their dropping and someone suggested the fake owls. When he set them up the birds ignored them and kept using his roof as a hangout. Then someone else saw the problem and told him to lay them down. Apparently the birds think they are dead and signal danger. After laying them down the birds did not return.

I have no idea if this would work for us but it sure worked on those left coast birds.

Kind of tough
 

To let the dog loose on the beach with the damn lease laws on the books.
I thought a cat would do. Nope, he would make friends with the frigging birds!

All of the above works fine until they figure it out, animals are not dum. The only method I have yet to try is the West Coast trick.

The leash law in my town (Moultonborough) states only that the dog has to be under your control... so as long as you can recall your dog, you are OK

I am so glad I have a dog.... he keeps the ducks away and when they get to brave, he jumps in after them, and gives chase until he realizes they are fast then he is in the water.....

He did almost catch one, however that was brave enough to come up on shore.... I was ready for duck dinner, but my wife yelled at the dog, and he broke off pursuit...

I am going to put my owl with the turning head on his side!!!! :laugh:

Never thought of that....great idea and I still have the owl if needed.

Wouldn't that be a scareduck?

A couple years ago I had a problem with skunks digging up my lawn over night. I bought a motion sensor sprinkler, and it worked really well. The skunks wander into the yard, the sprinkler goes off, and the skunks go away. I wonder if that would work for ducks or geese?

Try this site
 

We use some of these products in commercial buildings. They may have something...
http://www.bird-x.com/

Which ones worked best?

it depends
 

I have not had to use a product for ducks. Your best bet is to call them and depending on your budget I sure they have something that will work.

Idea
 

I was told by an exterminator once that all animals hate moth balls. Try putting cups of moth balls on dock. I have used them in the past to discourage animals

I don't think this is a good idea. Mothballs are basically a pesticide and not good should a dog eat them, and yes, a lab will eat most anything. Probably not the best thing to have on the dock near the water either.

Canada Geese
 

A whole flock of them arrived, mid morning, on our beach. Killer, our dog, went into action and got them to move about 10' off the beach and into the water.
Then he became interested in their poop and stopped barking. I, in turn, got my trusty slingshot and some glass marbles. They reluctantly went off.
Here is an article about getting rid of them: http://www.humanesociety.org/animals...eb_id149530151
Why they remain "protected" is beyond common sense.
Too bad "cherry bombs" are illegal. One or two, in the middle of a flock in the water, I believe, would have a beneficial result. (anyone know where I can get some?)

Duck's got itch too...



Terry
______________________________

I don't know about use with ducks, but having put them out to discourage rabbits around the garden, have watched other bird species use the mothballs to preen themselves.

My grandson has a remote controlled boat....lithium battery lasts about 20 minutes and it's very fast....great fun to chase ducks and geese.......geese have not returned since I used the strings of flags. Even after removing them the geese go right by my place to visit the neighbors .....strange this year. The usually have 8-12 babies but only saw 4 with the mating pair that usually visits us.

Mothballs not just for moths
 

I have seen grackles preen themselves with mothballs, as well. Mothballs do work well to discourage woodchucks, especially if you find their holes, throw a handful in and bury the holes. Later when watching a nature program, it showed grackles picking up mothballs and rubbing them against their bodies. They said they do it to rid themselves of mites. Who knew?

Call this guy
 

had a friend on Staten Island and the marina he was in had a Sea Gull problem. The remedy was nailing a dead Sea Gull to a dock post. Sea Gulls got the message:eek:

Or call an expert!