Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at 2:25 AM
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Protecting the waterfowl

A Cibolo Creek duck puts its beak under water as it fishes for food.

With restaurants named after them and articles written about them, many residents and visitors of Boerne have come to adore the ducks and geese meandering in and around Cibolo Creek. They are most commonly seen waddling along River Road, swimming in the creek, or nesting under trees – unboth-ered by the majority of people enjoying a stroll along the water’s edge and at River Road Park.

The ducks living along Cibolo Creek are favored not only by visitors and residents but are a top concern of Boerne Animal Services. For nearly a decade, Boerne Animal Services has prioritized the health and population of all waterfowl, partner-ing with Kendalia Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation to ensure the birds are tended to in the case of any injury, misplacement or other concern that a citizen may call about.

Stefanie Fisher with Boerne Animal Services said the waterfowl are “an integral part of our city, and we aim to keep our animals safe and healthy.”

“In this instance, a safe and healthy waterfowl population is good for the animals, people and water quality,” Fisher said.

Waterfowl injuries are not an uncommon occurrence for the birds along River Road as regular occurrences of such are reported to the city.

“At times, it can take about two to three hours for one duck rescue,” Fisher said. Animal control officers work to track the bird and provide immediate care, if possible. In other cases, volunteers with KWRR will pick up the injured birds to treat them at their facilities or photos of the birds and their injuries are sent to Ralph Lambert of KWRR for a diagnosis.

To benefit the relationship between Boerne and the waterfowl, Fisher offers advice and gentle reminders to residents and visitors to help ensure that the ducks and geese are protected from any harm and to maintain the symbiotic relationship between birds and humans.

An essential and often overlooked but simple task Fisher emphasizes is picking up trash, which “would have an immediate impact” on the safety of the ducks. The potentially harmful trash most commonly includes fishing lines and hooks that ducks and geese become tangled in and results in routine calls about an injured duck.

Fisher also said that although it may be tempting to not feeding the ducks bread. She said, “Bread acts as a filler and does not offer any positive nutrients or benefits to these ducks and geese.”

She suggests another important reminder for both the waterfowl and people’s pets to be kept safe is to keep dogs on a leash. Many ducks are injured as a result of individuals not following the city ordinance that states dogs must be kept on a leash within city limits.

Fisher said it also is cru-cial to keep in mind that the ducks and geese on River Road are wild animals and should be kept in their natural habitat. Likewise, domesticated ducks should not be dumped into Cibolo Creek.

“In numerous instances, people have dumped their animals along Cibolo Creek thinking they will survive and thrive,” Fisher said. “The domesticated ducks, however, are left without knowing how to tend to themselves in that environment.”

Fisher said she speaks for many when she expresses her passion for the wellness of the waterfowl of Cibolo Creek.

“I am here to help and res-cue those who cannot defend themselves or speak about their neglect or abuse,” she said.

By working alongside Boerne Animal Services and following Fisher's suggestions, the community of Boerne can be sure it will be able to continue to enjoy a healthy and thriving waterfowl populations.



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