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A quiet Cape Coral neighborhood has found itself in an unexpected battle with a duck. According to WFTX, residents have been fending off an aggressive Muscovy duck that’s been stirring up chaos and even sending locals to the hospital. The unwelcome waterfowl has reportedly attacked multiple people, leaving at least one with a bleeding hand.
James Sepulveda, who’s lived in the area since 1998, shared his unsettling experience. “I sit on my porch from 7 to 7:30 at this time of the year to catch a sunset, you know, some sun, and I had my eyes closed. All of a sudden, I felt a jab on my hand, and it was bleeding,” he said, showing off the wound left by the feisty duck.
Richard Guy, another neighbor, didn’t get away unscathed either. “I stood up and I made some noises, thinking it would go, ‘Go away, duck,’ you know. Next thing I know, its wings come out like it’s going to attack me,” he recalled.
Aggressive, Non-Native Ducks Stir Debate in Florida Neighborhoods
Muscovy ducks, while not native to Florida, have become a common, if controversial, sight across the state, with large populations especially in areas like Orlando. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service warns that these birds can be aggressive, cause property damage, and even transmit diseases.
Though they’re protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, a control order (USFWS 50 CFR 21.54) allows for the humane removal of Muscovy ducks, their nests, and eggs in areas outside their natural range, which includes Florida. Their native habitat is actually Texas.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) permits the ducks to be euthanized or donated to educational or scientific institutions if necessary. “They’re actually committing injury to individuals. They should get rid of [them],” Sepulveda stated.
Muscovy Duck Chaos Sparks Heated Debate in Cape Coral
Online, opinions have been split. One commenter vented, “I recall trying to get our HOA to remove/relocate numerous Muscovy ducks but they refused. They are considered non-native and invasive species… making messes and causing havoc but nobody will take care of the problem.”
Someone else shared their own experience. “I recall trying to get our HOA to remove/relocate numerous muscovy ducks, but they refused,” they explained. “They are considered non native and invasive species. They run off the other ducks and can be aggressive. They’re still around, making messes and causing havoc, but nobody will take care of the problem.“
Another, however, wasn’t as alarmed. “Oh, for Heaven’s sake, people! It’s just a duck. A feisty one, to be sure, but not something to be scared of,” they said. “Umbrellas work to deflect aggression.”
For now, Cape Coral residents should stay alert and maybe carry an umbrella until the situation is resolved.
