Ducklings are trying to cross a highway. What can I do?
It is very dangerous for you to stop on a busy road or highway to try to capture an injured wild bird, or any animal. Call Transport Quebec at 5-1-1 to notify them of the situation and they will send someone to capture the bird.
I found ducklings, or goslings and their mother is dead. What should I do?
Precocial birds are more independent at hatching than altricial birds, but they still depend on their parents for weeks to months, primarily for protection, guidance, and sometimes feeding. While precocial birds can walk and feed shortly after hatching, they are not fully independent.
If you find the babies with the mother or parents dead for any precocial birds it is important to capture the babies and send an image or video by email at info@lenichoir.org with your name and phone number so that Le Nichoir can identify the species of the bird and for further instructions.
There are ducklings stuck in the sewer without their mother, what can I do?
In Quebec, you are not legally allowed to remove a manhole cover yourself, even if an animal is trapped inside. Manhole covers provide access to municipal infrastructure like sewers, and tampering with them can be dangerous and as well as cause liability issues.
Call your municipality immediately. Report the trapped animal and give them the exact location. Public works may be able to help you, if not, most municipalities have a contract with a wildlife removal and shelter that can coordinate with the municipality to open the manhole cover.
There are ducklings running downtown with their mother. What can we do?
It is important to keep a safe distance so as not to scare the mother and ducklings further. Don’t try to pick them up or herd them unless they are in immediate danger, like on a busy road) Let the mother lead. She usually has a destination in mind, often heading toward water.
If they are crossing a road and if safe to do so, gently signal drivers to slow down.
If the ducklings and mother are in immediate danger and if there is water or a green space close by you can try to capture the ducklings.
This is a last resort, as when you try to catch the ducklings they will often frantically disperse, which can make the situation more dangerous. It is best to call Le Nichoir 450-458-2809 for more instructions to ensure that this procedure is done successfully.
If you manage to capture the ducklings, the mother can often be coaxed to follow you. If she initially flies away, wait until she returns. Mother ducks are often very protective of their young, and will return. Slowly walk with the box of ducklings to the closest water or greenspace.It is critical that the mother is present before trying to release them at another location. If the mother is not present, bring the ducklings to Le Nichoir.
I found a female duck on the ground and she is not moving. Is she injured?
In the spring it is not uncommon to find a female wild duck sitting on the ground and she does not move when you approach her. One reason for this could be because she is protecting her nest. We suggest sending Le Nichoir an email at info@lenichoir.org with a photo of the wild duck, your name and phone number so that Le Nichoir can try to identify whether the wild duck is injured or should be left alone.
I saw a wild duck and it’s not flying. What should I do?
In order to determine if the bird needs rescuing please email Le Nichoir at info@lenichoir.org with a photo of the bird, your name and phone number. It will help us identify the species and age of the wild duck.
I saw a wild duck and it’s not flying. Why ?
Most species of ducklings only begin flying after 7 weeks since hatching. Adult ducks and geese moult their primary feathers at once, making the duck or goose flightless until they grow new feathers in. The duck could also be injured. If a duck or goose has a dragging wing it could be injured or using the “broken wing” technique to lure predators away from its nest.
I found an injured goose or duck close to the water. How do I capture it?
Adult geese and ducks can be very difficult to catch if the bird can fly or swim away onto a body of water when approached. “Feeding for trust” is a way to get a waterbird out and away from the water, and get close enough to capture it safely. How long the process takes will depend on how accustomed the bird already is to taking food from people: some will come running right away, others may take a few days or even weeks to get close enough for a rescue.
Should I feed an injured duck or goose?
In order to capture an injured bird, “feeding for trust” may work.The same “feeding” person should go to the same location to feed the bird at the same time of day. Feed the duck/goose with wild bird seed or cracked corn. Place the food on the ground close to the shore but not in the water. Every day place the food a little further away from the water until the bird is feeding away from the shoreline. The “feeding” person will need to be involved in the rescue. The easiest way to capture an injured goose or duck is by the bird being distracted while being fed.
How can I capture a wild injured waterbird?
To capture the wild waterbird, assemble a group of people. Large tarps can be used as moving barriers, nets and blankets work well too. Corner the bird into an area where it cannot escape (e.g. the corner of a fence or hedge) then try to capture the waterbird. If the first try is not successful it will get increasingly harder to capture the waterbird because they learn quickly and will become afraid of being caught.
For fish-eating diving birds (like loons or mergansers) that don’t eat seed, the callers may just have to wait until the waterbird weakens and comes to shore, or gets itself into a situation where it can be easily caught.
I found a duck or goose nest full of eggs. What will happen when they hatch?
Duck and geese eggs and nests are federally protected and cannot be destroyed or moved without a license.
Usually within the first 24hrs, the parents will lead the babies from the nest site to the closest watercourse (river, pond, lake, stream), where they will continue to raise them. Note that Canada geese will sometimes raise their babies on the closest field of grass.
Why is there a mother duck and ducklings in my pool?
You can find a mix of information on that topic and downloadable documents in our Bird Help section at https://lenichoir.org/resources/.
Once the ducklings hatch, the mother duck will lead them to the closest watercourse that she already chose. It can be as far as 3 km away. Sometimes, before they leave your backyard or, along the way, they will stop by a swimming pool. The swimming pool is rarely the final destination, but tiny babies can get trapped in the pool if the ledge is too high for them to jump onto.
Mother ducks don’t intend to raise their babies in the pool and the ducklings need a way to get out. Ramps are better and safer than trying to catch them with a net and once the babies can get in and out, families can be encouraged to move along. Remember that chlorine and other pool chemicals are dangerous for ducklings.
Ducklings are good swimmers, but they need to be able to get out of the water to rest and dry off, otherwise they will get exhausted and drown. Also, the very small ducklings cannot regulate their temperature. If they remain in cold water too long, they could suffer from hypothermia and even die.
While you are arranging to provide the ducklings with a way out of the pool, toss some “floaties” into the water so they have somewhere to rest in the meantime. Flutter boards, outdoor cushions, and cooler lids all float and provide a surface for tired ducklings. You may need to be creative.
What are some ways to get ducklings and their mother out of a pool?
You can find a mix of information on that topic and downloadable documents in our Bird Help section at https://lenichoir.org/resources/.
Some ways to help get ducklings or goslings out of your pool include: Raising the water level so that it’s flush with the edge will make it easier for the babies to jump out. Add a flutter board or pool cushion attached to the edge of the pool to provide a way out. Ramps can be made of plywood, but make sure to attach an empty plastic bottle to the bottom edge so that they float. Once the ducklings or goslings have a way to get out of the pool, give them some time to find their way off of your property.
Ducklings will dive to avoid a net, and they tire very easily. Chasing them around with a net or pool skimmer is very risky, and should only be attempted if everything else has failed. If you do have to use a net, give them a 10–15-minute rest once they have dived 3 times.
A mother and her ducklings refuse to leave my pool. What should I do ?
You can find a mix of information on that topic and downloadable documents in our Bird Help section at https://lenichoir.org/resources/.
If the mother duck is still around, leave the family alone. They should move along within the next 24hrs, continuing on their journey to the chosen watercourse. Ducklings cannot survive without their mother and would need to be rescued, so please don’t scare her away.
If the duck and ducklings are able to get in and out of the pool, and it has been over 24 hrs and the family is still hanging around, there are some things you can do to encourage them to leave: throw colourful pool toys in the pool such as beach balls, pool noodles, flutter boards. The more colourful the better. Turn on the pool vacuum: If you have an automatic vacuum, let it run. The movement can help to scare the ducks away. Put Wind-up pool toys in your pool: Wind-up boats or animals that swim on their own will make the ducks nervous and more likely to leave. Turn on a radio: A radio playing loudly near the pool will make the ducks uncomfortable and more likely to leave.
What can you do when you find ducks or geese on the road ?
You can find a mix of information on that topic and downloadable documents in our Bird Help section at https://lenichoir.org/resources/.
After the baby ducks or geese hatch, their parent(s) will walk them from the nest site to the nearest watercourse. They may have to cross some roads to get there, and can get into some dangerous situations.
Finders should never put themselves or other people in danger in order to rescue a family of ducks or geese. This means no blocking traffic or pulling over in unsafe area. In the case of a family of ducks or geese on a highway, the police should be notified. They don’t want cars breaking suddenly or pulling over to avoid a family, so they will sometimes come to direct traffic until the birds can be moved off the road. On a busy street, it also makes sense to call the police. If there is a sidewalk or parking lot, a family of ducks or geese can be corralled into a “holding area” until help arrives to help them cross. If callers are worried about ducks on a residential street, they can carefully provide an escort for the family. Stay on the sidewalk, and walk just behind or just ahead of the family. Wave at cars to get their attention, and ask passersby to keep pets and children at a distance. Always, human safety first, and call the local police if things get complicated.
Do they have a mother? As always with ducklings and goslings, if there is no parent in sight, they should be contained and brought to Le Nichoir as ducklings and goslings cannot survive without their parents. However, if their parent(s) are with them, it’s always better to try to “herd” the whole family to safety so they don’t get split up.
I found a duck or goose nest in a dangerous location
You can find a mix of information on that topic and downloadable documents in our Bird Help section at https://lenichoir.org/resources/.
Ducks and geese can choose nesting spots that seem inappropriate to us, but make sense to them, such as flowerbeds or parking lots. Because they are federally protected, the nests cannot be disturbed or moved.
Nests moved more than a few feet in either direction will be abandoned by the parents, because they recognize their nest by site. The best course of action is usually none at all: once the babies have hatched, the parents will leave the area with them the same day. If the area is particularly high-traffic, small traffic cones (available at dollar stores) or caution tape can be placed around the nest area to keep people and cars away.
I am not able to avoid moving a duck/goose nest. What should I do?
You can find a mix of information on that topic and downloadable documents in our Bird Help section at https://lenichoir.org/bird-help.
Most wild birds, their nests, feathers and eggs are protected by different Federal and Provincial laws. Many species fall under protection of the Migratory Birds Convention Act. This means that it is illegal to remove a migratory bird nest without a permit and fines can be given to individuals not respecting these laws
If a nest is in an enclosed courtyard, the parents will not be able to lead their babies away when they hatch. Courtyards and backyards likely do not have enough food or water to sustain the babies while they grow up.
Once the babies have hatched, there are a few options:
In some municipalities, the local animal control can help out with containing the family and moving them to a more appropriate location. They may charge a fee for this service.
Hire (for a fee) a private wildlife removal company like Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Removal to catch the ducks and remove them from the yard. Confirm with the company whether or not they offer this service before referring since these birds are federally-protected and it may require additional permits.
If you decide to lead the parents and babies out yourself, please get help from friends or neighbors. Have some blankets and boxes or carriers ready before you start. Depending on the configuration of the enclosed area, gently coral them through the door to the courtyard, or through the building or out through an external door. Doors and hallways along the route should be blocked off or closed. The parent(s) are unlikely to try to fly, since their babies are not able to. The human escorts can hold up large towels or blankets to act as a “walking wall” and guide the birds to the appropriate exit.
In last resort, try to catch the babies and the parent(s) themselves, contain them in separate cat carriers or cardboard boxes, and move them outside the courtyard. This technique can also be used to remove ducklings and their parents from a school yard.
Be careful not to scare the duck away. Ducklings cannot survive on their own and will need to be rescued if their mother flies away. Also, make sure that the ducklings stay together as they may run away in all directions if panicking.
Please keep in mind that adult ducks should never be placed in the same box or carrier as the ducklings. They will certainly panic when captured and they could accidentally trample the ducklings.
Call Le Nichoir at 450-458-2809 for further instructions.
There is a duck/goose nest on the roof. What should I do?
You can find a mix of information on that topic and downloadable documents in our Bird Help section at https://lenichoir.org/resources/.
Ducklings and goslings are adapted to fall without getting hurt, and nests less than 2 storeys high should be fine for babies to jump from, as long as the roof doesn’t have a ledge they can’t get over. For nests more than 2 storeys high, babies will need help getting down:
In some municipalities, the local animal control can help out with containing the family and moving them to a more appropriate location. They may charge a fee for this service.
Hire (for a fee) a private wildlife removal company like Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Removal to catch the ducks and remove them from the courtyard. Confirm with the company whether or not they offer this service before referring because these birds are federally -protected and it may require additional permits.
If you decide to remove them yourself, catch only the ducklings/goslings and place them in a cardboard box. Bring the box downstairs to the ground, on the same side of the building that the nest was on. Leave the box open and watch from a distance. The parent(s) should find the babies from above. When they do, calmly and quietly tip the box over so the babies can follow their parent(s). (Note that this method works better for Canada geese as mallard moms can be easy to scare off.
I brought a bird to Le Nichoir. I have the admission number. Can I get an update?
Please call Le Nichoir at 450-458-2809 for an update, ideally in the afternoon as we are very busy with bird care in the morning.