By staff reporter

Last updated 09:22, Saturday, 26 July 2008

A FAMILY of ducklings which made an allotment pond their new home on Carlisle’s Raffles estate are falling victim to hungry seagulls.

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Emma Scott: ’You’re only allowed to relocate wildlife if it is injured. Otherwise, it’s illegal’

Residents yesterday had been hoping to save the three remaining survivors from a brood of eight ducklings but have had to abandon their plan after learning that the move would be illegal.

Creighton Avenue resident Leah Winthrop, 73, and a group of neighbours had planned to transport the ducklings and their mother to a pond in the countryside.

But all they can do now is hope that the survivors of the brood can lie low and avoid the fate of their five siblings.

She said: “People used to enjoy feeding the ducklings but they’re picked off one by one by rats and seagulls. We were going to take them to a new pond at Great Orton, where a farmer agreed to let us put them on his pond.

“It seems a shame that now we can’t do that.”

Emma Scott, of Knoxwood Wildlife Rescue Centre near Wigton, said the law prevents people from simply transplanting ducks from one pond to another.

“It’s also not a good idea because if you simply dump a duck and its ducklings on to a new pond and then leave them, the mother will fly off and go back to the old pond, regardless of whether she has ducklings there or not.

“You’re only allowed to relocate wildlife if it is injured. Otherwise, it’s illegal,” added Emma.

“The thing about ducklings being eaten by seagulls has always been an issue.

“Unfortunately, the problem with seagulls is that they are being driven away from their natural habitats by intensive fishing.

“There isn’t enough left for them to eat, and they’re also being driven from harboursides and docks.

“It’s obviously not good for the poor little ducklings but it’s a manmade problem.”