An unexpected sad development from the COVID-19 crisis has been showing up at animal sanctuaries over the last few weeks. Rachel McCrystal, executive director of the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary explained how the organization has seen an influx of domesticated ducks being abandoned, and how COVID-19 might be to blame.

“Ducks — In the past month or so we’ve taken in six more ducks, which is a lot for us. We’ve gotten many more calls about this problem, too,” said McCrystal. In total, the sanctuary has 35 ducks currently in its care.

Why ducks? “In the spring, when COVID began, many people were coming here, perhaps to second homes, and there was a boom in buying backyard animals. Chickens mostly, which involves another problem, but also ducks.”

The ducks in question turn from adorable little yellow fluffy ducklings into big, ten-pound white Pekin, or Long Island “meat ducks.” They are completely domesticated. They cannot fly due to their weight, and they can live for an average of ten years.

“So now people don’t want these animals anymore. They are just dumping them in lakes and rivers. And these ducks are helpless in the wild. They can’t fly, they’re literally, ‘sitting ducks’ for hawks, owls, foxes, anything.”

And of course, ducks are harder to rescue than many other animals, because they need a pond.

The problem with the chickens? “Roosters. Out of every ten or so chicks there’ll be a male, and that’s another rooster. In some jurisdictions it’s illegal to keep a rooster, because of the noise.”

Plus, most animal rescue organizations stick to fostering more traditional domesticated animals, like dogs and cats, and maybe some rabbits. This leaves few options for folks who find these wayward ducks. In Sullivan County, the animal sanctuary Arthur's Acres also has several chickens and a few ducks, but not the large number the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary has taken in since the pandemic began.

Conclusion? People want their “country” but only just so far — roosters and ducks are not for everyone.

However, the problem with ducks is not new. McCrystal noted, “It happens every year, but not on this scale. We took in four ducks in August and then we heard that two more had been dumped on a lake. But by the time I got there, there was only one, and she had a big gash on the back of her neck. We named her Jodie and she is recovering here. But sanctuaries are being overwhelmed with ducks. Never seen it happen at this level before.”

McCrystal added, “Pet ducks are really a ten-year commitment. Dropping them off in the wild is just like abandoning a baby Labrador. Every predator will come after them and they’re essentially helpless.”

McCrystal asks that people who bought ducks and now don’t want them to try to find them a home, or take them to a shelter. “Don’t just abandon them on a lake somewhere.”

For more information, visit the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary website at woodstocksanctuary.org.