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Can I move a Duck Nest?
No, you can’t. Not only is it illegal but it is rarely successful as female ducks and geese will usually abandon their nest if they are moved. Ducks and Geese are a migratory bird and are protected under the Migratory Bird Convention Act. It is against Federal Law to harm or destroy migratory birds or their nest.
What should I do if I have a goose/duck nest in my yard?
Congratulations! The mother has chosen your yard for some reason, known only to her. Do not be alarmed. Chances are you will barely notice she is there. In the wild, Mallard ducks have been documented nesting as far as a mile away from water. Do NOT put food out near the nest for her as this may attract cats, dogs, or crows who may eat the eggs or female duck. The female will take about 7-10 days to lay all her eggs. While she is laying the eggs she will not sit on them, instead she will just be loitering around. The best thing you can do is leave her alone and continue with your normal routines. Once all her eggs are laid (typically 8-12) she will begin incubating them for 23-30 days and will sit on the nest almost continually.
Once they hatch, the best thing to do is let the mother take her babies to the closest body of water on her own. Do not help mother goose/duck move her ducklings. If the ducklings cannot survive without human intervention, then the mother should not have chosen this location to nest. By assisting a mother and her young to the safety of a marsh, we reinforce to the mother that this backyard is a good place to nest, and she will likely return to this location to nest year after year.
What should I do if I find an abandoned gosling or duckling?
As difficult as it may be, the best thing to do is to let nature take its course. There is a reason the duckling/gosling has been left behind (i.e. too weak, ill, etc.). It is natural for a few of the ducklings/goslings to not make it into adulthood. If your child or pet brings a duckling or gosling home, do NOT play with it and try not to handle them too much. It is best to get them back into the wild quickly to prevent them from imprinting on people. It is illegal for a person to keep a wild duckling/gosling as a pet. You could also contact Salthaven West if the animal appears sick or injured.
Can I feed the ducks and geese in Wascana?
Generally, the Wascana Centre does not recommend feeding wildlife. Feeding wildlife can increase aggressive behaviour, assist with the passing of disease, cause overcrowding, and cause deformities in our birds. There is plenty of delicious food in Wascana Centre for our wildlife to munch on. If you decide to feed wildlife, it is important to remember to follow no-feeding signage around Wascana and to make sure you are feeding waterfowl nutritious food. To help protect our beautiful flowers and lush grass, Wascana Centre encourages visitors to not feed waterfowl. It is also important to not feed waterfowl bread. Bread is not a good snack for birds. Bread can fill their stomachs up quickly and leave them without the nutrients they need which can lead to conditions called Angel Wing. Instead, feed them foods that are similar to what they eat in the wild such as,
- Lettuce
- Cucumber
- Corn
- Rice
- Bird seed mixes (make sure it does not have an invasive plants)
What should I do if I find an injured bird (or any animal)?
During the summer, Wascana Centre receives over 100 unique duck/gosling calls. We are unable to respond to these calls because of the extremely high volume. Visit the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Saskatchewan website for detailed information on these or other situations or call their Wildlife Hotline at 306-242-7177 for more information.
Are there fish in Wascana Lake?
Since 2011, Wascana Centre has been regularly sampling Wascana Lake to determine current fish populations. Initially, White Suckers were the only fish found in our sampling. However, since then there has been an increasing number of Common Carp and Northern Pike found. Carp, like White Suckers, are a non-game species but they differ because they are not-native to Canada. Northern Pike is a game species that is commonly caught by anglers in the province.
Is fishing allowed in Wascana Centre?
No fishing is permitted in Wascana Centre at any time of the year as per PCC Bylaw #6 “Fishing within Wascana Centre is prohibited.”
Are coyotes dangerous?
Like almost any animal, domestic or wild, coyotes do have the potential to be dangerous. However, usually a normal coyote is afraid of humans. In almost all situations where human-coyote conflicts have occurred, the coyote was being fed directly or indirectly by humans and had lost its fear of humans. To avoid conflicts, it is really important to maintain and reinforce the coyote’s fear of humans
What should I do when if I notice a coyote nearby?
Raise your hands over your head to make yourself appear larger and shout at the animal. You can clap your hands as well. Do not run away, simply back away slowly. Never try to touch, feed, or leave food for the coyote.
You can leave a message for Wascana Centre’s ecologist if you observe a coyote within the park. Include when, where, and any other relevant information. To better understand coyote movement patterns within Wascana Centre, sighting information will be recorded and mapped. You can reach our ecologist by calling 306-522-3661 or by emailing an ecologist.
What does a coyote look like?
Coyotes are medium sized canines that vary in color from gray-brown to yellow-gray and any combination of those colors. Their belly and throat are cream-colored. They have a bushy tail with a black tip that is often held low behind the legs. Coyotes often appear large, especially in winter, due to their heavy fur coat and bushy tail. Coyotes are quite small, 9-16 kg (20-35 lbs) for adults which is roughly the same size as a beagle or springer spaniel.
Do coyotes travel in packs?
Coyotes can live individually, transiently, in pairs, or in family groups. In the winter, when most sightings occur, it is more common for Coyotes to be found alone or in pairs. They are rarely found in family groups as the young usually leave the family group before winter.
Will a coyote attack my dog?
In most cases a coyote will simply wander off when a person with a dog approaches. In rare cases coyotes can view small dogs as food. If a coyote appears curious about your dog or does not leave your immediate area upon approach, use the scare tactics mentioned. Other places have found that problems do not happen when dogs are leashed. Therefore, Wascana Centre recommends that you keep your always keep your animals leashed.
Why not just remove the coyotes?
Problematic animals, if necessary, will be removed on a case-by-case basis. Research has shown removal (i.e. trapping, relocation, shooting, etc) doesn’t help reduce coyote numbers. This is because as coyote populations decrease the litter sizes increase. The best approach is to ensure that coyotes don’t become accustomed to people and to make sure you scare them off if you encounter them.
If you still have questions, please contact the Wascana Centre Ecologists at