8/31/2023 0 Comments Park predators merchWhy? For one thing, research suggests they specifically seek out duck nests, rather than finding them opportunistically like most other mammals. Red foxes are an effective predator in the prairie pothole region, particularly for upland-nesting species such as mallards and pintails. Thus, while coyotes can have a negative impact on breeding ducks, the losses are somewhat offset by the coyotes’ displacement of more aggressive nest raiders. While they will eat ducklings, scavenge eggs and kill any hens they manage to catch, they also drive away foxes and other preeminent breeding duck predators. 1 for nesting ducks, given their size and abundance. Many assume that coyotes are public enemy No. Although skunks are primarily an upland nest predator, Delta research has documented that they will occasionally get their feet wet and go after an over-water duck nest as well. Skunks feed most heavily on duck eggs in early spring when food alternatives are scarce. Like raccoons, skunks are foraging animals that delight in encounters with duck nests and occasionally eat ducklings, too. Notably, raccoons are not native to all of the prairie pothole region, and ducks didn’t have to contend with them in prairie Canada until about the 1950s. They’ll eat ducklings, too, although their consumption of eggs is far more detrimental to the fall flight. And happen upon them they do, in their travels along prairie wetland edges, farmland ditches and other places breeding ducks nest. Raccoons generally don’t actively search for duck nests, but they’re happy to eat most or all of a clutch when they happen upon one. Here’s a look at the key predators that impact waterfowl production. And you can imagine the vulnerability of duck eggs to plundering, given their immobility and tasty, nutrient-rich yolks. The threats are even broader for ducklings, which are consumed by practically anything large enough to complete the task, from bullfrogs to herons. When it comes to food-chain hierarchy, ducks are the rabbits of the avian world - essentially every critter with forward-facing eyes wants a bite of them. Delta Waterfowl is on a mission to fill every flyway.
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