Please THINK before you buy ducks.

Every spring, Tractor Supply and other stores stock adorable baby ducks. They’re tempting. They’re cute. And far too often, they’re abandoned once the novelty wears off.

These are domesticated animals, not wildlife. They cannot survive on their own. When people “set them free” in ponds, parks, or creeks, it’s often a death sentence. They starve. They’re attacked. Or they slowly suffer without shelter or food.

Dumping domestic ducks is animal cruelty—and in many places, it’s illegal.

If you’re not ready for a 10+ year commitment, daily care, proper housing, and vet bills, then ducks aren’t the pet for you. That’s okay! But please don’t buy them for fun or aesthetics. These animals deserve safety, love, and lifelong responsibility.

Adopt if you can. Volunteer at a sanctuary. Educate others.

But please: don’t buy and abandon. Ducks aren’t disposable.