MIAMI – The war against urban gangs of Muscovy ducks continues.
Property managers who view ducks as a pest or plague continue to feed an industry of killers known as "wildlife control." The controllers are known as "wildlife trappers" or "wildlife removers."
Although federal regulations make it illegal to relocate the birds, some said they have risked getting a citation. Others follow through with the legal "humane killing." Some of them try to avoid the job all together when they have other options.
"It could be one duck, but my minimum fee is $1,000," Patrick Barry said. "I won't go out there for less than that."
Some trappers like Barry charge a minimum fee of $1,000 to remove Muscovy ducks, and removing each duck can cost from $65 to $180 per duck. But there needs to be a significant number of them to motivate technicians to come out.
Critter Control, which has offices in Fort Lauderdale and Miami, was doing the job earlier this year, but they are not anymore.
"It's a time consuming job, you have to hand catch them," a Critter Control representative said on the phone Wednesday. "We are no longer doing it."
The $7.2 billion animal control industry includes about 19,780 companies and 160,000 technicians nationwide, according to the National Pest Management Association. The industry is mostly focused on residential insects and pests.
But in an area like South Florida, there is also a demand for racoons, snakes, alligators, bats and Muscovy ducks. There were about 20 registered wildlife removers in Broward and about 10 in Miami-Dade this year, records show.
DOCUMENT | Federal law on Muscovy ducks
DOCUMENT | Final rule on ducks (March 10, 2010)
OTHER OPTIONS: To help control the growing population, experts said, residents can feed ducks contraceptives, pay a wildlife trapper, or give the duck to a federally licensed rehabilitation facility.
South Florida Wildlife Center, 3200 SW 4th Ave., in Fort Lauderdale, 954-524-4302
Duck Haven, 2627 NW 61st Ave., in Margate, 954-979-5044