Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata) are a common sight in Florida’s urban and suburban areas, yet they are not native to the state. This large duck species, identifiable by the fleshy red caruncles on its face, originates from Mexico, Central, and South America. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officially regulates the species due to the ecological and health concerns their feral populations create. Wildlife managers generally agree that these birds pose enough of a threat to be managed as an invasive species across the state.
The Official Classification Status in Florida
Muscovy ducks established a presence in Florida from escaped domestic stock, with records of feral populations dating back to the mid-1960s. The state regulates these birds as Class III wildlife, meaning a permit is required to possess them for commercial purposes, such as exhibition or sale. Because they are non-native, the FWC considers their widespread establishment to qualify them as an invasive species in Florida.
Their legal status is defined largely by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Control Order. Although the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) typically protects most North American waterfowl, the Control Order excludes Muscovy ducks from this protection in areas where they are not native, including all of Florida. This regulatory distinction provides the legal framework for residents and wildlife managers to control the population without violating federal law.
Specific Ecological Impacts on Florida Wildlife
Competition and Displacement
The primary concern regarding Muscovy ducks stems from their aggressive behavior and high reproductive capacity, which allows them to quickly dominate local habitats. These large ducks compete directly with native Florida waterfowl, such as Wood Ducks and Mottled Ducks, for limited resources like food and nesting sites. They are known to displace smaller, native species, especially in urban ponds and canals where their numbers become concentrated.
Genetic and Water Quality Threats
Feral Muscovy ducks also pose a genetic threat to native duck populations through hybridization. Male Muscovy drakes can interbreed with females of other duck species, most notably Mallards, resulting in hybrid offspring. Although these hybrid offspring, often called “mule ducks,” are sterile, the process itself can dilute the gene pool of native species, decreasing their genetic viability. Furthermore, the large volume of waste they produce degrades water quality. High concentrations of Muscovy droppings introduce excessive nutrients into small urban water bodies, leading to nutrient loading and increasing the potential for pathogen transmission to native birds and domestic poultry.
Regulatory Guidelines for Public Interaction
Because Muscovy ducks are classified as a non-native, unprotected species in Florida, the FWC does not remove nuisance individuals from private property. Instead, the responsibility for managing populations falls to the landowner or a hired nuisance wildlife trapper. Landowners are permitted to capture and humanely dispatch Muscovy ducks found on their property without obtaining a specific state permit, provided the birds have no identifiable owner.
A key regulation prohibits releasing or relocating the ducks once they are captured. Florida Statute 379.231 and federal regulations prohibit the transport and release of Muscovy ducks to prevent the further spread of feral populations and potential diseases. Captured birds must either be humanely euthanized or transferred to a facility, such as a scientific or educational institution, that ensures they will not escape into the wild.
The public is strongly discouraged from feeding Muscovy ducks, as this action exacerbates the problem by promoting rapid population growth and unnatural congregation. Feeding concentrates the birds, which increases the amount of droppings and the risk of aggressive behavior toward humans and native wildlife. Some local municipalities have enacted ordinances prohibiting the feeding of waterfowl to mitigate these effects.