Ruddy Duck Loses Her Waterproofing

The following story about a ruddy duck was submitted by Alberta Institute For Wildlife Conservation in Alberta, Canada.

This ruddy duck was brought into the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC) on November 11, 2022, after being found grounded beside a highway. She was a large distance from any water bodies.

The only injury found on the ruddy duck was a wound just above her bill. She was started on antibiotics and pain relief then placed in a pool to self-hydrate.

Unfortunately, her waterproofing was compromised. She became soaked as soon as she was placed in the water (water birds should remain dry in water and the water should just roll off of them). After two days of attempting to waterproof her, her condition was not improving. As a last resort she had to be washed.

During her stay she was offered mealworms, but was not eating consistently. Waterproofing cycles and washes are stressful events and very calorie consuming. To ensure she kept up her strength and did not lose weight, the ruddy duck was tubed EmerAid IC Omnivore three times per day. The wash went smoothly and she regained her waterproofing afterward.

As she was more comfortable in the water, she also began eating on her own. She luckily had a quick turn around and was released back into the wild on November 18, 2022.