Ducks vanish in Ogre area as residents blame foxes and hawks
Residents around Ogre are sharing stories on social media about their runner ducks disappearing, most likely falling prey to foxes and birds of prey. One case ended happily after some ducks managed to call for help.
Duck keepers in and around Ogre have been reporting the disappearance of their runner ducks, with foxes being the most commonly blamed culprit in online comments. Residents note that this year's fox cubs have grown up by August and become more active and visible, including in town areas such as near Brīvības Street.
Several duck owners describe repeated cases where birds vanished even from enclosed pens. One owner said she could not explain how a duck disappeared from a closed enclosure, with foxes' ability to jump over fences suggested as a possible explanation. Another case involved a duck killed by a hawk, showing that threats come from both the ground and the air.
A dramatic case with a happy ending
One of the most striking stories took place last spring, when a fox carried off 12 ducks from a fenced yard within half an hour, in broad daylight. Only four survived — they managed to run to a window and call for help, which saved their lives.
Not all cases end tragically, however. One owner recounted that her missing duck turned up in the same enclosure almost two weeks later, having hidden in tall grass and calmly nested there. In another case, involving two-month-old ducklings that all disappeared overnight without a trace, such a happy outcome is considered unlikely.
Advice for duck keepers
Residents also shared practical tips, suggesting ducks be fed apples, carrots, cabbage, curd cheese and milk rather than relying solely on their natural snail-hunting. Well-fed ducks may be less inclined to wander off. Overall, the accounts suggest that keeping runner ducks around Ogre requires heightened vigilance against predators.
