[HairOfTheDog]

I don't understand because I see baby ducks sold in Del's all the time. They're different from this one, how?

Different breed. This duck was a Mallard, a native wild species, not breed of farm duck.

[MarMema]

This duck was a Mallard, a native wild species, not breed of farm duck.

And therefore property of the state, I suppose.

[Hot Tabasco]

Different breed. This duck was a Mallard, a native wild species, not breed of farm duck.

As a high school science project, my nephew was given a mallard duck egg and when it hatched, he was the imprinted parent. He raised it at home and it was literally a pet and followed him everywhere when outside. Unfortunately "Maverick" had a deformed wing and couldn't fly and eventually died at about 2 years old due to an improper diet that was not forseen by the vet...........

[Wonder Warthog]

"This duck was a Mallard, a native wild species, not breed of farm duck."

I guarantee that there are domesticated Mallards, as well. Some are wild, some ain't.

[CARDINALRULES]

We had a couple of Mallards when I was a kid. All were named Georgia and Saltine Quacker. At least 3 died of natural causes (or snake bites - damn pygmy rattlers), one was accidently killed by our Chocolate lab puppy.

She learned not to be so rough and she and the ducks had a game, she'd get into their pen, chase them around, grab one by the neck and hop into their tub and swim with it for a while, release, exit the pen, repeat a few hours later.

She never hurt another duck.