SPCA Confirms Mandarin Duck Spotted In Fall Shot And Killed By A Hunter, Chief Says

STONY BROOK, NY — The Suffolk County Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has confirmed reports that the Mandarin duck spotted in the Stony Brook area was shot and killed by a hunter late last year, Chief Roy Gross said.

The duck, which has intricate and vibrant plumage, was spotted at a neighborhood pond in Stony Brook in November, drawing birdwatchers and curiosity-seekers alike.

It was seen by many as "a lifer" because it's considered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to catch a glimpse of it.

In December, photo of what appeared to be a dead Mandarin duck was posted on Patch's Facebook pages for Patchogue and Riverhead in the comment section of a story about the SPCA seeking information about the duck's location so that it could be rescued and taken to a sanctuary.

One poster claimed the duck was killed "weeks ago," while another was posted by an "anonymous hunter" in Stony Brook.

"Unless there is another one out there, which I strongly doubt, it appears to be that it was shot and killed by a hunter," Gross said.

The initial reports outraged animal rescuers, who advocated for the animal, saying it likely escaped captivity or was released, and should have been rescued from the wild and placed in a sanctuary where it could live out its life.

John DiLeonardo, executive director of Humane Long Island, previously told Patch that the organization's volunteers were devastated by the reports.

"This tragic outcome occurred despite repeated warnings that the duck was unsafe and active efforts by rescuers to secure him and bring him to sanctuary," he said.

The organization had urged birders and wildlife photographers to keep the duck’s location confidential so that a safe rescue could be carried out, but "rescue attempts were repeatedly disrupted, and access was actively impeded," he added.

“This was a completely avoidable tragedy,” he said. “This duck was abandoned, defenseless, and clearly at risk. Instead of allowing rescuers to help him, people treated his presence like entertainment. When humans abandon animals or interfere with rescues, the animals are the ones who pay the ultimate price.”

In a previous statement, the state Department of Environmental Conservation said it was made aware "of the potential take of the non-native Mandarin duck that was recently seen in the Stony Brook/East Setauket area."

The ducks, which are native to East Asia, are occasionally sighted in the state, most often due to having escaped a domestic enclosure and are typically bred in captivity and kept as pets," according to the agency.

"Based on the information available, there is currently no evidence indicating illegal hunting in this matter," the statement said. "A free-roaming Mandarin duck in New York State would be considered a wild duck, according to DEC hunting regulations. A properly licensed waterfowl hunter is allowed to hunt wild ducks throughout the legally established season and include them in their bag limit."

Patch has reached out for comment.

This story will be updated. Check back for updates.