Helping Ducks in the North Shore: What I’ve Learned

Spending time near water—whether it’s Lake Superior, an inland lake, or a quiet marsh—means sharing space with ducks. They’re just there, part of the landscape, dipping under the surface, paddling through the reeds, or flashing their wings as they take off in unison.

But recent reports have highlighted troubling trends. A comprehensive study revealed that duck populations, once considered a conservation success story, have declined by 30% since 2017. Similarly, waterfowl numbers have dropped by 20% since 2014.

I started wondering: What does it take for ducks to thrive? And is there anything an individual can do to help?

The short answer? Yes. Ducks need healthy wetlands, safe nesting spots, and clean water—things that are disappearing but can still be protected. Here’s what I’ve learned about small, doable actions that help keep ducks part of the North Shore landscape.

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1. Wetlands Matter. A Lot.

Ducks don’t just use wetlands—they depend on them. Wetlands provide nesting areas, food, and shelter from predators. However, in Minnesota, the number of wetland types II-V was 29% lower in 2024 compared to the previous year and 20% below the long-term average.

If you have land near a wetland, stream, or lake, even a small change in how you manage it can make a difference:

• Keep natural vegetation along shorelines. Tall grasses and shrubs protect nests and prevent erosion.
• Avoid fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. Runoff from yards and farms pollutes water and reduces aquatic plants that ducks rely on.
• Remove invasive plants like reed canary grass. This aggressive species takes over wetlands, crowding out native plants that ducks need for cover and food.

Even if you don’t own land near a wetland, supporting conservation efforts—like those led by local watershed organizations, Ducks Unlimited, or Tribal land restoration programs—helps protect and restore critical habitat.

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2. Wood Ducks Need a Hand (or a Nest Box)

Not all ducks nest on the ground. Wood ducks, hooded mergansers, and goldeneyes rely on tree cavities near the water to lay their eggs. But as older trees get cut down, those natural nesting spots disappear.

That’s where nest boxes come in. Properly placed, they provide safe, elevated nesting sites that can significantly boost duck populations.

How to Set Up a Wood Duck Nest Box

• Mount it 4-6 feet above water or in a flood-resistant location near a marsh or pond.
• Use untreated wood and add wood shavings (not straw) inside for bedding.
• Install a predator guard around the pole to keep raccoons and squirrels out.
• Clean it out once a year in late winter—old nesting material can harbor parasites.

These boxes can double nesting success rates for wood ducks. If you don’t have the right spot for one, donating to a local nest box program is another way to help.

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3. Lead-Free Fishing Gear = Fewer Dead Ducks

Many ducks, especially dabblers like mallards, swallow small pebbles to help grind up their food. The problem? If those pebbles are actually lead sinkers or jigs lost from fishing tackle, the results are lethal.

Lead poisoning is still a major killer of waterfowl, even though non-toxic alternatives exist. Just one lead sinker can poison a duck, a loon, or even a bald eagle that scavenges a poisoned bird.

The fix is simple: Switch to lead-free tackle. Many bait shops in Duluth, Grand Marais, and Two Harbors now carry alternatives made from steel, tungsten, tin, and bismuth. They work just as well—sometimes even better—and they don’t leach toxic metals into lakes and rivers.

If you fish, it’s a small switch. If you don’t, spreading awareness helps.

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4. Shorelines Don’t Have to Be Lawns

Ducks (especially mallards, blue-winged teal, and pintails) nest in tall grasses and shrubs, not open lawns. Yet, a lot of shorelines have been turned into neatly mowed yards, leaving duck eggs exposed to predators, flooding, and human disturbance.

A better approach? Letting shorelines grow naturally. If you’re near the water, consider:

• Planting native shoreline grasses like little bluestem, switchgrass, or prairie cordgrass to provide cover.
• Avoiding riprap (rock barriers). While it prevents erosion, it also removes habitat for ducks and other wildlife.
• Leaving a buffer zone of wild plants. Even a 10-foot strip of native vegetation can protect nests and improve water quality.

Plus, a natural shoreline attracts butterflies, frogs, and fireflies—all signs of a healthy ecosystem.

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5. Outdoor Cats and Ducks Don’t Mix

It’s an uncomfortable truth for cat lovers, but free-roaming cats kill millions of birds each year—including baby ducks.

Feral cats and pet cats allowed to roam outside hunt instinctively, even when they’re well-fed. While most people think of them preying on songbirds, they also go after ducklings and ground-nesting birds.

If you have a cat, one of the best things you can do for local wildlife is keep it indoors or in an enclosed outdoor space (a “catio”). Even reducing their outdoor time during peak nesting season (spring and early summer) helps.

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Final Thought: Small Actions Add Up

Ducks aren’t disappearing overnight, but their habitat is shrinking. The good news? We can slow that down.

• If you fish, use lead-free tackle.
• If you own land near water, keep it natural—even a small patch of native grasses makes a difference.
• If you have space, put up a wood duck box.
• If you have a cat, consider keeping it indoors during nesting season.
• If none of those apply, support conservation efforts—whether it’s a local wetland restoration project or just spreading the word.

Ducks are part of what makes the North Shore feel so alive, flashes of movement in the reeds, wings lifting off the water at dusk. Keeping them around doesn’t take much—just attention, and a few small choices that add up over time.