DWR Advises Residents to Leave Baby Birds Alone

By Sun Advocate

Spring has sprung and many baby birds are making their arrival with the new season.
Each spring the Division of Wildlife Resources and the USDA – Wildlife Services receive a flood of calls about baby birds, particularly ducklings that show up in backyards.
According to the wildlife division, most of the calls come from people concerned that the ducklings don’t have enough to eat, or don’t live close enough to water.
“Ducks have a two-to three-day supply of nutrition that they store in their feathers,” explained wildlife services representative, Mike Bodenchuck.
“All ducklings are capable of self-maintenance, including eating and drinking, from the day they are born.”
Bodenchuk says that mother ducks have two responsibilities. The first is to lead the ducklings to water. The second is to ward off predators.
He also says the best thing people can do for ducklings they find in their yard is to simply leave the gate open and leave the ducklings alone.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulates ducks and the migratory bird act gives them federal protection.
Under the treaty, simply picking up ducks or ducklings is considered “take” that would be a violation if done without a valid license or outside the duck hunting season.
For more information, contact the nearest Utah Division of Wildlife Resources office.