Imperial Valley press., 1944-10-20
LET'S COUNSEL TOGETHER
ON THIS DUCK BUSINESS

Imperial valley again Is face to face
with the duck problem. 1t was hoped
that some adequate solution would be
reached before this fail 5 migration start
ed, but not so. Again it is a condition,
not theory. The only thing that could
wipe out the veXing trouble would be for
the ducks to quit coming. Since that can
not happen, short of miracle, the time
is here again to wrestle with the queS-
ton.
And so let's counsel together The core
of the problem revolves around wildlife
conservation and crop destruction. All
are agreed that protecting the countrys
remaining wild game should be accom-
plished. Unfortunately the element of
selfishness enters into the whole picture.
as we'll as wide Misunderstanding among
the various groups and individuals who
maintain or are compelled to take an in
terest in the matter
1t can't be said, however, that the crop
grower has a closed mind as to protec-
ton, neither can the hunters be classi-
fled as those who have no other interest
than their own pleasure. Instead of pro-
ducing an argument and creation OF
cliques and factions, these very facts
should point a way to reach the proper
solution.
Manifestly the habits of the ducks can
not be changed. They are creatures of
nature and their migratory process is
age-old. It was fixed when nature diVid-
ed the seasons of the year. 1t is up to
man to conform to these habits and solve
problem that had not been created until
the human element entered into it.
Another situation as certain as the
migration itself is that when refuge is
maintained within daylight flight from
growing crops, the ducks will go there
to feed Refugees must be established
tributary to water. either streams or
lakes. if the object for which they are
set up is to be reached and kept up. And
when there is water crops will be, too.
There are two other situations that
contribute part in creation of the prob
lem. as viewed by many. One, the season
in the three southeastern counties, being
fifteen days later in opening, tends to
drive more ducks this way; the other, no
closed season across the border aggraV-
ates the trouble to a large degree, by scar
ing the birds this way, continuously.
All these things are fundamental and
academic as far as the immediate prob
lem is concerned.
Now then. all the hunters in the state
couldn't deplete the Valley refugees suffl-
ciently to prevent crop damage even If
the season ana JNe take were eAItlueu
and expanded. 1t would be easy on the
other hand, actually to annihilate the
ducks Likewise the refugees could be
abandoned but there are those who con-
tend that the ducks will come whether
or no. Attempts to scare them off ap-
pear futile And it would require small
army of men with uninvented instruments
to do that trick and not kill or injure the
birds.
One proposed solution sounds feasible
to other students of the problem-mere
policing of the crop areas. This of
course. runs to the scare-off' theory,
but not fully. There are those who be-,
lieve that some provision should be made
for sufficient funds actually to police
the fields at the critical periods when
the real damage occurs.
Along this same line Of thought is one
of a more drastic nature, to-Wit, that the
crop growers should be Unidentified for
their losses through a fund created by
levying a license fee on the protection
lists groups Besides being an unWieldy
weapon, it draws this comment-what
would be gained permanently? And the
economic position would not be improved
because the paid-for-crops never would
contribute to the food supply for which
they were intended.
We do not pretend to be able to offer
a specific care, but it does appear that