In the wild, eagles are apex predators. That means they’re at the top of the food chain. In every habitat and every ecosystem, eagles have no natural predators. They hunt and eat other animals for their own survival.
And unfortunately, eagles prey on ducks, in fact, they’ll snatch them if they have the opportunity to get their claws on them. If you noticed or think that these apex predators roam near you, you should absolutely get some precautions to avoid any incidents.
Table of Contents
How Dangerous Are Eagles To Ducks?
Eagles are extremely dangerous to ducks, they will just wait for the right opportunity to strike at their prey. Ducks are fairly small birds, and therefore easy to carry away.
This predator will attack any animal in a yard or nearby, like chickens, geese, small dogs, and cats.
Eagles are opportunistic. They’ll go with what they find easy to catch and can eat. If there’s a problem with any of the ducks in your pond, you need to be on the lookout for dangers that are nearby like eagles.
How Do Eagles Attack Ducks?
Birds of prey like eagles and hawks have to swoop down on their prey and hit them with their claws to kill them. If a duck sees a bird of prey coming toward it, it will usually swim away to get to safety. But eagles are powerful enough to grab the duck and fly away with it.
When an eagle has a duck in its claws, it flies up high above the water and then dives down towards the water. It lets the duck fall into the water and drowns.
Eagles can also attack ducks on land, but it is much harder because they do not have the advantage of using the element of surprise. They can also attack ducks in their nests and kill the ducklings.
How To Keep Eagles And Other Birds Of Prey Away From Ducks?
There are several things you can do to keep these predators away from your flock.
If you want to keep ducks safe from eagles, you can purchase some of these accessories:
A green colored mist net: Mist nets are commonly used by bird hunters, it is a piece of strong net attached to a frame. The net is usually hung from ropes or up in trees near water. It is used to capture birds of prey and other birds. When an eagle swoops down to catch your ducks, it gets caught in the mist net instead of your ducks!
Create a coop: You can build a coop to keep your ducks and other poultry safe. A coop is better than leaving your ducks in an open pen alone. A predator can get a foothold in an open pen but is not able to get in a coop.
Use an electric fence: Put up an electric fence around your chickens and ducks. This will keep away predators such as dogs, coyotes, bears, hawks, and eagles.
Use a guard dog: Keep a dog that is very territorial around your property. The dog can scare off any predators that come near.
Raise ducks in a barn or shed: Chickens are very vulnerable outside, ducks are not. Ducks can thrive in a small environment like a shed. Ducks are able to have more protection from predators thanks to the shelter.
What Other Predators Attack Ducks?
A wide variety of predators are threats to ducks. You should be extra careful if you see an eagle near your flock, but don’t forget about other predators. Here are some other predators to watch out for:
● Foxes – Foxes are a common predator in many areas. You may be able to hear them coming if they are hunting your ducks.
● Dogs – Dogs can climb over fences or dig their way in, so you have to keep an eye on your flock to make sure they don’t get any unwanted company.
● Coyotes – Coyotes can jump over fences, dig under them and easily get through holes in the fence. They are very sly and quick, so keep an extra eye on your flock if you hear any howling.
● Owls – Owls are silent predators and can swoop down without warning. If you notice an owl nearby, don’t leave your flock out at night.
● Weasels – Weasels are cunning predators. They are small but can get through many holes.
● Hawks – Hawks also sit in trees to watch their prey, then swoop down at the right moment. Watch the surrounding trees!
Conclusion
Eagles are dangerous to ducks because they are at the top of the food chain and will hunt anything that they can get their claws on.
Ducks can protect themselves by staying away from open water and the shoreline, but they can’t do anything to protect their eggs and ducklings. You should keep an eye out for predators that can get into your flock and protect your ducks as best you can.
