480 Ducks Are Up for Adoption in Riverside County: Everything You Need to Know About Them
Riverside County animal services officials are now working to find new homes for approximately 480 ducks after the birds were surrendered by a property owner operating a sanctuary in the Anza area. The massive duck intake — described as the largest of any species for the department in roughly a decade — has prompted an emergency adoption effort at the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, with all fees waived and the public urged to help find homes for the creatures.
Why Were 480 Ducks Removed From a Riverside County Sanctuary?
The ducks were taken from a property in unincorporated Riverside County after officials determined the sanctuary could no longer safely house its growing flock. The Riverside County Department of Animal Services had been aware of the property owner’s intent to maintain an animal sanctuary for the birds, but recent investigations revealed overcrowding and what officials described as improper husbandry.
Animal control officers inspected the property leading up to the large-scale removal operation as part of an ongoing investigation. The property owner cooperated with RCDAS to coordinate the relinquishment and placement of the animals.
“This is the largest intake of any species for the Riverside County Department of Animal Services in probably the past decade,” said Veronica Perez, a spokesperson with Riverside County Animal Services, per KABC.
The situation developed over time as the sanctuary continued to take in ducks beyond its capacity. As the number of birds grew, conditions reportedly became difficult to maintain, prompting intervention from the department.
“Given the scale of overcrowding that we were seeing, it prompted us to say, ‘It’s best to test some of the animals to see if there was anything going on,’” Perez said. “And so we were able to get a sample to test for infectious diseases, and they all came back negative. But with the scale of overcrowding, if they were in a better environment, they might not be as stressed. They might not have maybe some of the deficiencies in vitamins maybe that they could be having. Really, it was working with the property owner to say, ‘Hey, let’s find better placement for these animals given the severe overcrowding.’”
The department is also investigating the scale of overcrowding on the property and assessing the welfare of additional waterfowl.
Are the Surrendered Ducks Healthy?
Prior to the removal operation, RCDAS coordinated with the California Department of Food and Agriculture to test a sample of the animals for zoonotic infectious diseases. All results came back negative, and animal services reported that the ducks appeared to be in generally stable health without signs of infectious disease. However, limited assessments showed the animals did not receive adequate caretaking, and officials said the overcrowded conditions contributed to stress and potential nutritional deficiencies. Adoption efforts have continued as authorities monitor the situation and work through ongoing assessments related to the sanctuary and its operations.
“Overcrowding can contribute to stress and decreased immune function,” said RCDAS Chief Veterinarian Dr. Itzel Vizcarra. “Inadequate nutrition, particularly vitamin A deficiency, can impair the lining of the digestive tract, predisposing birds to inflammation and secondary illness.”
Officials said these conditions are commonly seen in birds kept in overcrowded or under-sourced environments. The primary recommendation for recovery and prevention is improved caretaking, including appropriate stocking density, sanitation practices and a balanced, nutritionally complete diet.
How to Adopt Ducks From Riverside County Animal Services
The department launched an emergency adoption effort after taking possession of the birds, making the ducks available to the public as well as rescue organizations and animal care groups. All adoption fees have been waived, and the ducks were made available at the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus beginning April 15 on a first-come, first-served basis. Officials emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that local shelters are not equipped to house such a large number of waterfowl long-term. Rescue organizations and individuals interested in adopting can contact the department by emailing shelterinfo@rivco.org.
“This large-scale operation requires intense coordination across our department, and our main priority is the safe transport and intake of these animals today,” said RCDAS Assistant Director Dr. Kimberly Youngberg. “We cannot provide long-term shelter care for this number of animals so it’s important we work quickly to find placement with rescues, adopters and organizations willing to assist this week.”
What Adopters Need to Know About Duck Care and Requirements
The department outlined several requirements for anyone planning to give the ducks a new home. Adopters must bring their own appropriate carriers to transport the birds from the shelter, as the department does not supply them. Officials also stressed that adopters should check with their city or local jurisdiction regarding ordinance restrictions on the number of waterfowl permitted per household, as regulations vary by location. For the birds’ ongoing recovery, the department recommended appropriate stocking density, proper sanitation practices and a balanced, nutritionally complete diet.
“Ducks are actually flock animals and they want to be around companions,” Perez said.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
