Tasmania’s wild duck populations are under threat from aggressive hybrid offspring of mallards and native species, prompting the state government to urge backyard duck owners to keep their birds contained.
Primary Industries and Water Minister Gavin Pearce raised the alarm during question time in parliament on Wednesday, after being asked about the issue by Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Carlo Di Falco.
Pearce told the chamber that introduced mallards were breeding with native species like the Pacific black duck, producing hybrid offspring that were causing problems in the wild.
“These mallard ducks have been breeding with the native ducks and we’ve come up with a hybrid species, a crossbred, if you like – and they are aggressive,” he said.
“They are different to all other ducks, their reaction to contact is different to other ducks and they are causing mayhem in the wild duck population.”
The hybrids are tough to spot because they look like ordinary ducks but carry the mixed genes and a more aggressive temperament.
Tasmania has 11 native duck species, according to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.
Mallards and their hybrids regularly push native birds out of their habitats, particularly in urban waterways in the state’s south.
Pearce said much of the problem traced back to people dumping unwanted domestic ducks, which then bred with wild populations.
He urged anyone keeping ducks for eggs, meat or as pets to make sure their birds stayed on the property.
“It is important that they are retained within the property, because if they are allowed to get into our natural species and breed and cause havoc, then that erodes at their viability,” Pearce said.
“So look after your ducks, keep your ducks in a row and we’ll continue to monitor the hybrid ducks.”
