What the duck? Lake Summerside’s resident waterfowl dodges rehoming attempts

A domestic duck, affectionately nicknamed 'Buddy,' has become a familiar sight at Lake Summerside in south Edmonton, but his summer retreat is temporary. The Cayuga duck arrived at the man-made lake about three months ago and has settled in, seemingly content and healthy, according to Kim Livingston, office manager at the Lake Summerside Residents Association.

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He seems pretty happy, he seems pretty healthy

Buddy's presence, however, poses a challenge. He is not a native species; his distinctive dark green head and black body with an iridescent blue sheen mark him as a domestic breed, unlike the mallards and northern pintails typically found in Alberta. Wildlife rescue organizations have confirmed they cannot assist with a domestic animal.

The primary concern is Buddy's survival through the upcoming winter. Cayuga ducks, while hardy, are not equipped for Alberta's harsh climate, especially since Buddy cannot fly and is therefore unable to migrate. "He can't take off from here, so he's stuck," Livingston explained. "Not only will he not survive in the winter without shelter, I did read that even though he's foraging in the lake, he's not getting the proper nutrition."

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They asked me to send pictures of him, so I did, and they told me they weren’t able to do anything for him, because he’s a domestic duck.

While Buddy is currently being fed waterfowl food, a permanent solution is needed. A new owner has been found who has other ducks and geese, but convincing Buddy to leave his lakeside home is proving difficult. Staff have attempted to catch him, but he consistently evades capture. An expert bird catcher is expected to help over the weekend to finally relocate Buddy to his new home.

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He can’t take off from here, so he’s stuck. Not only will he not survive in the winter without shelter, I did read that even though he’s foraging in the lake, he's not getting the proper nutrition.