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Officials looking for suspects that shot ducks with blow darts

By Larry Spruill

Blow darts are being shot at and into ducks in a Clay County neighborhood. 

By Larry Spruill

Wildlife officials in Clay County are looking for those responsible for shooting ducks with blow darts.

One local vet saved them just in time.

"I was appalled that people are targeting these animals," Dr. Kathleen Deckard of Pets R Family Veterinary Hospital said.

Deckard said she was appalled and disgusted when she saw the ducks.

“The ones that we seen have been just a metal tube sticking out several inches from a part of their body and one was in the skull behind their eye, “Deckard said.

Deckard says the wildlife coalition brought her the ducks this week after finding them here at Ronnie Vant Zant Park in Orange Park.

"Most of these are in ponds that are in neighborhoods, so it's probably kids that are doing this," Deckard said.

The wildlife coalition said more ducks are being targeted and they are looking for those responsible.

"We seen quite a number of cases of ducks being reported having blow-darts in various parts of their bodies," Deckard said.

"We just had to apply anesthetic and then remove them pretty easily," Deckard said. 

Although these ducks are now back in their natural habitat, officials are watching them closely.

WJAX

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