Ducks shot with blowguns
Fort Worth, TX (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Oct 11, 2006
County: Tarrant

Disposition: Open

Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

On Oct 11, Muscovy ducks were apparently shot with a blowgun and are still swimming around the small pond impaled with long, thin metal rods.

Animal control officers have been unable to catch the ducks.

About 30 ducks swam along the shoreline where Brown sat feeding them. At least three of the ducks had been hit by the rods, which had broken off inside at least two of them.

A metal rod pokes out of a duckling�s left wing. He often tries to remove it with his bill, but when he does, the rod pokes him in the eye.

A duck impaled in the stomach limps along the shore, unable to swim.

A third duck has a rod broken off in her neck. She also suffers from an infected right foot that has fishing line wrapped tightly around it. She swims lopsided, and the other ducks chase and isolate her.

Haltom City officials said they learned of the problem when a neighbor called Oct. 11. Officers tried to catch the ducks but gave up when the birds fled into the water. Officers went to the pond five more times but were unsuccessful, Sgt. Terry Stayer said.

Although city officials have promised to help as much as possible, the ultimate responsibility falls on the property owners � Spring Lake Apartments, officials said.

�We have tried to catch the ducks numerous times, and they are in good enough shape to get away from us,� Stayer said. �We have made every effort we can, but we just don�t have the resources to go after them in the water.�

City officials said that they tried to enlist the help of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department but that the agency referred them to other animal rescue agencies. The city has forwarded that information to the apartment complex management, Stayer said.

Apartment officials referred all inquiries to a manager named Tracy, who did not return repeated phone calls Tuesday seeking comment. The complex is owned by Minnesota-based Mhc Spring Lake, according to the Tarrant Appraisal District�s online database.

Officials from the Humane Society of North Texas said they had not received any complaints about the ducks from the city or the apartment complex. Officials with the Parks and Wildlife Department did not return calls seeking comment.

After being contacted by the Star-Telegram, however, the Humane Society of the United States immediately began pooling resources to try to help the ducks, said Lou Guyton director of the society�s Southwest regional office in Fort Worth.

�Catching ducks is hard, and one or two people can�t do it,� Guyton said. �We�re going to have to mount some resources.�

Ducks seem to be an easy target for animal abusers in Tarrant County.

Stayer said whoever is responsible for injuring the ducks in Haltom City could face animal cruelty charges. Anyone with information should call police at 817-222-7000.

If you have information on this case, please contact:
Haltom City Police
817-222-7000

Case Updates

References

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