It was no wild goose chase for one Irvine patrol officer who stumbled upon a feathered friend taking a gander at herself on the hood of her patrol car. The Irvine Police Department shared the quirky encounter on Facebook, confirming that there was no "fowl play" involved, just a mallard duck in the thick of mating season, making itself at home on the squad car.
According to the Irvine PD's light-hearted post, the officer was able to confirm that the loitering duck was "just ducky", no harm, no fowl; and while the incident provided a bit of humor for the department, they were also quick to share some tips from their Animal Services Officers for the public during this busy duck season. These winged residents have a varied diet and people are urged not to feed them bread, as contrary to popular belief, it's bad for their health leading to issues and doesn't provide the nutrition they need.
The protection of mallard ducks and their nests is a matter federal law takes seriously, with a lengthy incubation period of 25-30 days. Irvine PD highlighted that these ducks have diverse habitat needs and assured residents that it's normal to spot them around the city, not necessarily adjacent to ponds or lakes. Even if they seem out of their element, it's a natural occurrence during this time of year.
In cases when intervention is necessary, such as when ducklings fall into a storm drain, ducklings find themselves alone in a pool without their mother, or when a duck is injured, the Irvine Animal Services Officers are prepared to step in, marking the importance of these creatures in our urban ecosystem with the community's assistance, ducks are properly cared for or safely relocated, if necessary.
