Muscle Eating Duck

First let me say that the baby Sweeney Ducks that hatched on the river this spring are doing wonderful. They are growing and return to the homestead a couple times a day, and so far all 12 babies are accounted for.

Jordan and I encountered something that I had never witnessed before, when we spotted one of the babies limping across the ground trying so hard to keep up with Momma Duck and it's eleven siblings.

I was able to scoop the baby up with a net before she could reach the river and found a Fresh Water Muscle clamped down tight on her foot.

I have no clue how long this muscle wound have remained attached to this little babe, but I would venture to guess it very well could have slowed her down enough that she would have become easy pickings for a Hawk, Owl, or almost anything else that might be looking for a easy meal.

So I get a warm fuzzy feeling inside when I can say, that with Jordan's help we were able to pry the clam off the little duckings foot and she promptly rejoined her Momma, and her brothers and sisters on the river.





And hopefully lives happily ever after.