No Ducks...No Itch?

ApS · 07-07-2007, 05:30 AM

This is the time of summer that "duck itch" makes its appearance known; however, there have been practically no ducks in sight.

Loons may be down in numbers some, mergansers too this season, but the number of mallards are almost nothing. Does this gibe with the experiences of others on the lake?

Decades ago, duck itch cases were unknown—even at summer camp, and we seldom saw mallards back then. Is it that there are fewer tourists feeding ducks this year?

In sizzling weather, it's my "cooling-off" practice to put a chair in the lake in two feet of water. Last summer, while in my chair, I got struck by three nasty stings from something while immersed!

The round, itchy welts persisted for about ten days, just like duck itch.

Today, I have a floating chair

that will take me into deeper water and—hopefully—far from any bites.

sa meredith · 07-07-2007, 09:18 AM

Not sure I have ever heard of "Duck Itch". What is it?
For what it's worth...I spend many Friday mornings docked at the Meredith Town Docks, and the last 2 or 3, have seen countless Mallards...many very, very young. But dozens of them. Anyway....

Resident 2B · 07-07-2007, 10:36 AM

Plenty of mallards in the Weirs Channel over the last two weeks. A lot of little ones following mama around.

R2B

h20racer · 07-07-2007, 05:06 PM

the duck itch is here, stop feeding the ducks

Skipper of the Sea Que · 07-07-2007, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sa meredith

Not sure I have ever heard of "Duck Itch". What is it?
For what it's worth...I spend many Friday mornings docked at the Meredith Town Docks, and the last 2 or 3, have seen countless Mallards...many very, very young. But dozens of them. Anyway....

Duck itch aka Swimmers itch is sounds funny but it's real. Here's one forum thread on the subject from 2005. Thread all about Duck Itch

You might also want to do a forum search on Duck Itch for more info.

Hope this helps you sa meredith.

Don't feed the water foul !!!!! Now try telling that to some visiting boater who's kids are thrilled at giving crumbs to those itch carrying feathered poopers.

Alton Bay Bob · 07-08-2007, 07:23 AM

As I sit at my kitchen table looking at the lake and the rain ... There are 10 ducks siting on my lawn! Mom and her kids.

And they are all huddled together...Eventhey are wishing for the sun.

KBoater · 07-08-2007, 09:09 AM

There seems to be more new families of ducks this year. The families are usually 7-9. I know there are at least 3 around the Wolfeboro Bay and back Bay area. Now if we could just have some duck poop that killed Millfoil.

The larger families will mean more poop and itch.

KPW · 07-08-2007, 09:25 AM

There is duck itch at the Tuftonboro town beach.

Lakegeezer · 07-08-2007, 10:44 AM

A hatch of ducklings around here lost their mama and one by one, became dinner for the local mink. Its sad to see nature in action, but maybe we'll have less itch.

nj2nh · 07-08-2007, 03:51 PM

We had 22 ducks off our dock one day last week. I confess I couldn't say no when my boys wanted to feed them - I know, I know. I shouldn't have, but how do you say no to those little faces?

Anyway, one mama duck with 14 (!!!!!) babies came peeping by our dock. Then another with only 3 came by. Three males then showed up. I have never seen so many ducks down in our cove.

Here is a pic I took that night.

Jersey Girl

KonaChick · 07-08-2007, 04:39 PM

That is a beautiful picture. You might feel differently about feeding the ducks next time when you look at those little faces covered with duck itch.

HomeWood · 07-08-2007, 06:44 PM

I have never experienced duck itch in all the years I have been to the lake. (knock on wood) Thankfully and I don't want to either. I have jumped off the dock before to swim so I could get past some nasty muck along the shore.

Weirs guy · 07-09-2007, 11:28 AM

My kids have both had duck itch already, and their day care on Lake Opechee has 2 more cases! Last night we saw a momma duck and about 1,456 duckling's tagging along. I've never seen so many with one momma before!

My son asked the other day if he could feed the ones standing on the beach, I replied he could feed them, to the dog.

07-07-2007, 05:30 AM	#1
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,937 Thanks: 2,205 Thanked 776 Times in 553 Posts	No Ducks...No Itch? This is the time of summer that "duck itch" makes its appearance known; however, there have been practically no ducks in sight. Loons may be down in numbers some, mergansers too this season, but the number of mallards are almost nothing. Does this gibe with the experiences of others on the lake? Decades ago, duck itch cases were unknown—even at summer camp, and we seldom saw mallards back then. Is it that there are fewer tourists feeding ducks this year? In sizzling weather, it's my "cooling-off" practice to put a chair in the lake in two feet of water. Last summer, while in my chair, I got struck by three nasty stings from something while immersed! The round, itchy welts persisted for about ten days, just like duck itch. Today, I have a floating chair that will take me into deeper water and—hopefully—far from any bites. __________________ Is it "Common Sense" isn't.

07-07-2007, 09:18 AM	#2
sa meredith Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 986 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 32 Thanked 352 Times in 137 Posts	Duck itch??? Not sure I have ever heard of "Duck Itch". What is it? For what it's worth...I spend many Friday mornings docked at the Meredith Town Docks, and the last 2 or 3, have seen countless Mallards...many very, very young. But dozens of them. Anyway....

07-07-2007, 10:36 AM	#3
Resident 2B Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Shore, MA Posts: 1,357 Thanks: 994 Thanked 313 Times in 163 Posts	Ducks Plenty of mallards in the Weirs Channel over the last two weeks. A lot of little ones following mama around. R2B

07-08-2007, 07:23 AM	#6
Alton Bay Bob Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 46 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	A perfect day for ducks As I sit at my kitchen table looking at the lake and the rain ... There are 10 ducks siting on my lawn! Mom and her kids. And they are all huddled together...Eventhey are wishing for the sun.

07-08-2007, 09:09 AM	#7
KBoater Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Wolfeboro Posts: 521 Thanks: 10 Thanked 29 Times in 15 Posts	families of ducks There seems to be more new families of ducks this year. The families are usually 7-9. I know there are at least 3 around the Wolfeboro Bay and back Bay area. Now if we could just have some duck poop that killed Millfoil. The larger families will mean more poop and itch. __________________ Home Permanently in NH

07-07-2007, 05:06 PM	#4
h20racer Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	the duck itch is here, stop feeding the ducks

07-08-2007, 09:25 AM	#8
KPW Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 397 Thanks: 732 Thanked 118 Times in 59 Posts	Duck itch @ Tuftonboro Town Beach There is duck itch at the Tuftonboro town beach.

07-08-2007, 10:44 AM	#9
Lakegeezer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 1,677 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 354 Thanked 639 Times in 290 Posts	Mink food A hatch of ducklings around here lost their mama and one by one, became dinner for the local mink. Its sad to see nature in action, but maybe we'll have less itch. __________________ -lg

07-08-2007, 03:51 PM	#10
nj2nh Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 529 Thanks: 80 Thanked 47 Times in 27 Posts	22 Ducks and counting We had 22 ducks off our dock one day last week. I confess I couldn't say no when my boys wanted to feed them - I know, I know. I shouldn't have, but how do you say no to those little faces? Anyway, one mama duck with 14 (!!!!!) babies came peeping by our dock. Then another with only 3 came by. Three males then showed up. I have never seen so many ducks down in our cove. Here is a pic I took that night. Jersey Girl Attached Images __________________

07-08-2007, 04:39 PM	#11
KonaChick Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 518 Thanks: 19 Thanked 62 Times in 15 Posts	That is a beautiful picture. You might feel differently about feeding the ducks next time when you look at those little faces covered with duck itch.

07-08-2007, 06:44 PM	#12
HomeWood Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Clayton,NC / Sanbornton,NH Posts: 611 Thanks: 126 Thanked 137 Times in 75 Posts	I have never experienced duck itch in all the years I have been to the lake. (knock on wood) Thankfully and I don't want to either. I have jumped off the dock before to swim so I could get past some nasty muck along the shore.

07-09-2007, 11:28 AM	#13
Weirs guy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Weirs Beach, NH Posts: 1,067 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	My kids have both had duck itch already, and their day care on Lake Opechee has 2 more cases! Last night we saw a momma duck and about 1,456 duckling's tagging along. I've never seen so many with one momma before! My son asked the other day if he could feed the ones standing on the beach, I replied he could feed them, to the dog. __________________ Is it bikeweek yet? Now?