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Limping mallard

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From: Vicki Keller
City:
Gurnee, IL
Hi there, there's a male mallard duck living nearby with other ducks. I saw him limping over the weekend but he can fly and swim. He can put a little weight in it but not much. He has problems getting up grom laying down. He's able to swim with all the other mallards and fly. Any suggestions? I would like to take him somewhete for help but don't know where or how to catch him.

 
Extension Message
From: Laura Kammin
Visiting Extension Specialist, Pollution Prevention
Extension-Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program
lkammin@illinois.edu
If he can swim and fly, let him stay where he is. A foot injury can heal on its own. It will probably be painful for him, which is understandably hard for you to watch. But there are few people sufficiently trained to help wildlife. And the stress of capture and treatment is sometimes more than the bird can handle. If he can swim and fly he's got a strong chance against predators. It's better for the mallard to let him stay with the other ducks.

 
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