Dead ducks dumped in Conway

CONWAY, AR - 14 dead ducks de-breasted and dumped on the side of the road behind The Links at Cadron Valley Golf Course in Conway have some people wondering if the ducks were plucked from the ponds around the green.

Lindell Atkinson, the manager of the golf course, and Chief of Wildlife with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, David Goad, both believe the waterfowl came from an irresponsible hunter.

Around 50 ducks live at The Links at Cadron Valley Golf Course in Conway. Some migrate while others are permanent residents of the course.

Thanks to the illegal generosity of humans who live in the nearby apartments and homes, they are regularly fed, much to the disappointment of the golf course manager. Lindell Atkinson says feeding the ducks is highly discouraged and illegal.

Monday morning, just one day after duck hunting season ended, someone dumped duck carcasses off Charlie Dayer Drive, not far from The Links.

Goad says there's no way to know for sure, but since no one reported hearing shots fire, and pellets were found in the dead ducks, he believes the ducks were shot somewhere else and their carcasses were just dumped there. "The carcasses should be been disposed of properly. Anytime something like this happens it gives all of us a black eye. It's just unfortunate that it happened."

Because the ducks at The Links are used to being fed, they've lost their fear of humans, but Atkinson isn't concerned someone is poaching them. "I don't think the ducks came from here. It's hunting season and I think they came from somewhere else." Atkinson says the ducks aren't a nuisance and are welcome to stay at The Links or free to fly away.

The Conway Police Department did respond to the call about the dead ducks, but a report was not filed. Goad says anyone found feeding wildlife can be fined, but at most the offense for dead duck dumping would be a littering charge.