Floridas Mottled Duck Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

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Floridas Mottled DuckFlorida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission
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Introduction

• Inhabited Florida for thousands of
  years
• Valuable part of Floridas wildlife
  heritage
• Important component of wetland ecosystems

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Close Relative of the Mallard

• Female (in front) and male
• mottled duck pair

• Male and female mallard pair

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Where Florida Mottled Ducks Are Found
Principle Range of the Florida Mottled Duck
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MyFWC.com
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Its Up to Us All
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The Problem Hybridization

• Mottled ducks Mallards
• EXTINCTION

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The Culprit

• Domesticated, released mallards

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Domesticated mallards establish themselves as
year-round residents
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Domesticated mallards threaten existence of
mottled duck through crossbreeding
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Examples of mallard hybridization in other parts
of the world

• New Zealand - Approximately 95 of native
  gray ducks are hybrids
• Hawaii - Hawaiian duck most likely
  completely hybridized on island of Oahu
• Madagascar - Meller's duck now highly
  endangered due to introduction of mallards

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The Law

• Unlawful to release captive-
• reared mallards into the
• wild
• Must have permit to buy,
• sell or possess mallards
• Individuals possessing
• mallards must keep them in
• cage

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The Numbers
7 to 12 of the 30,000 to 40,000 mottled ducks in
Florida are showing genetic signs of
hybridization
Female and male mottled duck
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What can you do to help?

• Do not release mallards into the wild
• Do not feed or shelter mallards
• Help spread the word
• Consider removing mallards

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For more information on Floridas mottled
duck, visit MyFWC.com/duck/mott
led or contact FWCs Waterfowl
Management Program at (850)
488-5878.