MALLARD
While ducks are not common in Bell Canyon, we do occasionally find our pools have become home to nesting pairs of Mallard ducks. They will set up home in dense ground-cover and the female will lead the young to water within a day after hatching. Unfortunately, ducks don’t do well in pools. Firstly, there isn’t food in your pool for ducks. They eat aquatic plants and insects, neither of which are in your pool. Secondly, if the ducklings can’t get out of your pool, they will drown. Ducklings are not born waterproof and need to get out of the water periodically to dry off and preen. Pool decks are often too high above the water for the ducklings to jump out. If they can get out, it’s possible that the mother will lead the ducklings away when she realizes she picked a bad spot. If not, expect them to hang out for the next eight weeks until the ducklings can fly on their own. If they stay, they WILL make a mess. They’ll leave droppings in your pool that will spoil it for human use.