Recently a Scaup duck ran into trouble in Duncan when he was attacked by a hawk, and ended up with several puncture wounds to his neck.
The duck was transferred to Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre in Metchosin, where rehabilitators noticed the Scaup had feet sores in addition to his neck wounds, and were worried the sores were too severe to heal completely.
Once the Scaup was stabilized, he required surgery to repair the neck wounds. The surgery was successful, but the Scaup’s feet sores were still a concern – when seabirds develop such sores, it is often a death sentence.
Fortunately, the rehabilitators at Wild ARC were able to perform an additional surgery on the bird’s feet to treat the affected areas and allow them to heal. The Scaup also needed assisted feedings to sustain his good body condition, as often seabirds and diving ducks are reluctant to eat when in captivity.
Following two weeks of intensive care consisting of antibiotics, antifungal medication, probiotics, pain control, homoepathic remedies and wound care, the Lesser Scaup duck, now fully recovered, was released at the Duncan Fish Hatchery on Monday, Feb. 18, where he paddled down the waterway to join dozens of other local birds.
To support Wild ARC’s efforts in caring for wild patients visit wildarc.com.
