A Case of Unjustified Persecution

Muscovy ducks have lived in Florida for centuries. Still, instead of being appreciated for their unique role in the environment, they are unfairly labeled as invasive and treated as a nuisance. This designation has led to widespread mistreatment, inhumane removal, and even outright harm—often at the hands of those who misunderstand their impact.

Despite their gentle nature and ecological benefits, Florida’s laws enable individuals and businesses to harass, trap, and kill Muscovies, often with little to no consequences. This flawed approach ignores the reality: Muscovy ducks are not causing harm—they are simply trying to survive in a world that increasingly views them as expendable.

Muscovies Have Feelings, Too

Many people don’t realize that Muscovy ducks feel emotions like we do. They experience joy, fear, grief, and love.

💛 They form strong family bonds—a mother will fight to protect her ducklings, and if one is lost, she will grieve.
💛 They feel fear and pain—a duck being chased, trapped, or hurt reacts like any other living creature, with distress and suffering.
💛 They express happiness and attachment—they recognize familiar people, wag their tails when excited, and even follow humans they trust.

If someone poisoned, removed, or violently killed our family members, we wouldn’t stand for it. Yet, Muscovy ducks endure these horrors every day in Florida. Why? Because they’re ducks? Because they don’t speak our language? That is not an excuse for cruelty.

Compassion should not be limited to our own species.

The Flawed "Invasive" Label

The term "invasive" is typically used for species that aggressively outcompete native wildlife, damage ecosystems, or spread rapidly in a destructive way. Muscovy ducks do none of these things.

They don’t harm native duck populations—in fact, they tend to stick to their own small flocks.
They help control pests by eating insects like mosquitoes and ticks.
They thrive in urban areas without disrupting native ecosystems.

Yet, because they exist outside their historical range, Florida treats them as a species to be controlled, not coexisted with. This has led to a system that prioritizes elimination over ethical management.

The Legal Gray Area of Relocation

One of the biggest challenges in helping Muscovy ducks in Florida is the confusing and restrictive laws on relocation.

🦆 Muscovy ducks cannot be relocated to the wild or public lands.
🦆 Moving them to a different neighborhood, park, or pond is illegal.
🦆 They can only be relocated to private property where they will be actively cared for.

This means that while it is possible to save them, it’s challenging. Many people who want to help don’t have enough private land, and sanctuaries often cannot accept them due to space limitations.

This law creates a cruel, no-win situation:

People who don’t want ducks in their area can’t ethically move them to a safer public space, so they turn to extermination.
People who want to help and protect Muscovies struggle to find legal relocation options.
Sanctuaries who would love to help are often forced to turn them away due to space constraints.

Instead of offering humane solutions, Florida’s laws make it nearly impossible to save these ducks.

How is that ethical?

What Florida Gets Wrong

🚨 Loopholes in Laws Allow Cruelty
Under federal law, Muscovies are not protected like other migratory birds, making it legal for individuals and businesses to remove or kill them—often in cruel ways. From poisoning to suffocation, countless ducks are subjected to inhumane treatment simply because they exist in the wrong place at the wrong time.

🚨 Ignored Community Concerns
Many communities love their Muscovy ducks and want them to be protected, but Florida’s laws make it nearly impossible to advocate for them. Even when residents protest removals, local authorities often side with businesses, property managers, or individuals who see them as a nuisance.

The Reality of "Removal"

Muscovy "removal" is often a euphemism for mass killing. When ducks are removed from a neighborhood or property:

❌ They are not taken to sanctuaries—most sanctuaries are full, and relocation is limited to private property.
❌ They are not rehomed easily—finding safe, legal placement for them is challenging.
❌ They are killed, usually in inhumane ways—trapped and euthanized, poisoned, or shot.

This is not responsible wildlife management.

This is legalized cruelty.

What Needs to Change?

Florida’s policies on Muscovy ducks need to be reformed. Instead of allowing unchecked killing, the state should adopt a humane, science-backed approach that balances wildlife management with ethical treatment.

Recognize Muscovy ducks as naturalized, not invasive.
Allow humane relocation to appropriate spaces, including public lands.
Implement stricter regulations against cruel treatment.
Educate communities about peaceful coexistence instead of fearmongering.

How You Can Help

🦆 Speak up! Contact local representatives and demand changes to Florida’s inhumane Muscovy policies.
🦆 Spread awareness. Share this article and educate others about the reality of Muscovy mistreatment.
🦆 Support sanctuaries. Many sanctuaries work tirelessly to protect ducks—donate or volunteer when possible.
🦆 Advocate for humane treatment. If you see mistreatment, report it. If your neighborhood has Muscovies, push for ethical coexistence.

Muscovies Deserve Better

Muscovy ducks are not the problem—Florida’s outdated, flawed approach to them is. It’s time to replace fear and cruelty with compassion and coexistence.

These birds feel. They love. They fear. They suffer. And they deserve better.

Changing Florida’s laws to allow humane relocation beyond private property would save countless lives. Instead of treating these ducks like pests, it’s time to recognize their right to exist peacefully.

PLEASE share if you believe Florida should do better!

Muscovy Ducks in Florida: Misunderstood, Mistreated, and Unfairly Removed