Readers Respond -- Doing away with Newport Beach ducks

We believe Newport Beach should have the right to round up the ducks

and to move them to an undisclosed place (“Displaced ducks put city in

fowl mood,” Feb. 20). They are dirty.

The swimming pools take a very strong beating in the area because of

the presence of the ducks. People feeding them just add to the problem.

If the feed was not so readily available, I think half the ducks would go

away.

ED AND ROSEMARY STAPLETON

Newport Beach

In regard to the city’s latest duck solution. I think it’s an

excellent solution. One that is extremely important to occur very quickly

because the same people that are feeding the ducks are also involved in

very organized breeding of the ducks where they capture the eggs laid in

the spring, which is about to occur very, very shortly.

One person puts them in an incubator and lets them hatch on her

property and then sets them out in the water. Another person lets them

hatch in the water and then puts the hatchlings in her home and raises

them until they’re old enough to go into the water. So removing the ducks

from the environment will certainly help in that regard, and we won’t

have continued breeding. This breeding is also why we have so many ducks

in addition to the feeding.

Also, sadly, the watering of ducks was not included in the latest

ordinance. We still have people that are putting water out, which of

course attracts the ducks to the area. I’m very much in support of

putting the ducks in an environment where they belong, which is a fresh

water environment that has a natural supply of food.

SUE BUETTELL

Balboa Island

The problem we have with these ducks is -- I checked with the

Department of Fish and Game -- they’re not going to be able to remove

these ducks, about 20, sometimes close to 50. It states in the code of

federal regulations that this is a baited area. The fine is up to $15,000

and six months in jail -- or $100,000 as an individual or $200,000 as an

organization and one year in prison.

The city really can’t do anything about it.

Also, the relocation area must be tested, and the ducks themselves

must be tested for disease. Also, if they’re a polluted species, they

shouldn’t be moved to another area. They also need to test the ducks to

see if they’re polluting the canal.

There are many things they can do without wasting the darn things. If

they’re just going to be destroyed, they can be used for something else

like hunting.

You can’t shoot a firearm off in Newport Beach, but as far as I know

there aren’t laws against grabbing them. Dogs can also grab them. The

city, in actuality, can’t take the ducks themselves.

I wish the city the best of luck.

JIM HILDRETH

Balboa Island

QUESTION

SNEAKING OUT DUCKS

Should the city of Newport Beach try to remove ducks from the Balboa

Island area? Call our Readers Hotline at (949) 642-6086 or send e-mail to

o7 [email protected] . Please spell your name and include your

hometown and phone number, for verification purposes only.