# Is it safe to kill and eat a duck from the local park? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 4, 2002, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-kill-and-eat-a-duck-from-the-local-park/112371 "2002-06-04T21:10:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![domesticatedjunglefowl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@domesticatedjunglefowl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/domesticatedjunglefowl)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-kill-and-eat-a-duck-from-the-local-park/112371/1 "2002-06-04T21:10:27Z")
I know there are legal repercussions if I am caught killing ducks at the park, but would it be safe to eat one if cooked properly? ---
**Author:** ![Jenner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@Jenner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenner)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-kill-and-eat-a-duck-from-the-local-park/112371/2 "2002-06-04T21:15:09Z")
Don’t even think about it, pal. I _like_ those ducks. ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-kill-and-eat-a-duck-from-the-local-park/112371/3 "2002-06-04T21:24:03Z")
**Memorandum** To: The Ducks at Mamomerlot’s Park From: LolaCocaCola Date: June 3, 2002 Re: Death plot RUN FOR YER LIVES!!! ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-kill-and-eat-a-duck-from-the-local-park/112371/4 "2002-06-04T21:27:20Z")
Uh, Mangomerlot, even. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-kill-and-eat-a-duck-from-the-local-park/112371/5 "2002-06-04T21:28:45Z")
How to speak Southern: C D E D B D ducks? M R not ducks! M R! C D E D B D Wings? L I B. M R ducks! ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-kill-and-eat-a-duck-from-the-local-park/112371/6 "2002-06-04T21:28:58Z")
You wouldn’t even notice if one was missing. I really don’t know, I guess it would depend on what park you were talking about. ---
**Author:** ![ageless6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@ageless6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ageless6)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-kill-and-eat-a-duck-from-the-local-park/112371/7 "2002-06-04T21:52:19Z")
Mango: Don’t even think about it! A few years ago I damn near sliced off a toe chasing down a duck in a park pond that some jerk had caught and twisted one of those plastic six pack rings around its’ neck until it couldn’t even eat. I called animal control and they gave me some shit about “it’s not our job” blah, blah,so I took off my shoes and socks, jumped in and immediately stepped on a piece of glass. I caught and freed the duck and went home to tape my toe back together. LEAVE THE DUCKS ALONE! You want duck, try the market. ::mumble, mumble, putz, mumble :: ---
**Author:** ![MachV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@MachV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MachV)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-kill-and-eat-a-duck-from-the-local-park/112371/8 "2002-06-04T21:53:52Z")
You got me in the mood for duck. I’ll try it & let you know. ---
**Author:** ![domesticatedjunglefowl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@domesticatedjunglefowl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/domesticatedjunglefowl)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-kill-and-eat-a-duck-from-the-local-park/112371/9 "2002-06-04T21:56:18Z")
I’d be a hippocrite if i choose to eat meat but wouldn’t have the guts to kill an animal myself. Besides, I wanna save a few bucks. so why not? Are city dwelling ducks likely to be disease ridden? ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-kill-and-eat-a-duck-from-the-local-park/112371/10 "2002-06-04T22:03:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mangomerlot \* > \*\*I’d be a hippocrite if i choose to eat meat but wouldn’t have the guts to kill an animal myself. Besides, I wanna save a few bucks. > so why not? Are city dwelling ducks likely to be disease ridden? \*\* I doubt that eating _one_ city duck would cause you any problems. My main concern would be with things like heavy metals and the like from city polution, but I doubt just one would hurt you. As for the diseases, make sure you clean it properly, and cook it, that ought to do it. I suggest you hit the duck with a rock or brick in the head, and then quickly throw it in a bag or something before you draw too much attention to yourself. The duck will probably flop around a bit, but I don’t think it will make too much noise. ---
**Author:** ![ageless6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@ageless6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ageless6)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-kill-and-eat-a-duck-from-the-local-park/112371/11 "2002-06-04T22:09:11Z")
Mango: It’s hypocrite and you’d also be one if you like cheeseburgers and didn’t kill your own cow. Get a high powered rifle and pop it right between the eyes. Don’t worry about the farmers; they consider it good sport and they’ll most likely aim their 12 gauges over your head. ---
**Author:** ![domesticatedjunglefowl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@domesticatedjunglefowl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/domesticatedjunglefowl)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-kill-and-eat-a-duck-from-the-local-park/112371/12 "2002-06-04T22:12:33Z")
ummm hippocrite = big fat hypocrite ---
**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-kill-and-eat-a-duck-from-the-local-park/112371/13 "2002-06-05T01:01:35Z")
Eep! ---
**Author:** ![GopherGod72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f0a364/32.png) [@GopherGod72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GopherGod72)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-kill-and-eat-a-duck-from-the-local-park/112371/14 "2002-06-05T01:17:55Z")
I’ve done a lot of duck hunting… sometimes they dont die so easily. How you gonna kill one? ---
**Author:** ![GopherGod72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f0a364/32.png) [@GopherGod72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GopherGod72)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-kill-and-eat-a-duck-from-the-local-park/112371/15 "2002-06-05T01:18:11Z")
I’ve done a lot of duck hunting… sometimes they dont die so easily. How you gonna kill one? forgot to add… and not get noticed. ---
**Author:** ![NardoPolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecae2f/32.png) [@NardoPolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NardoPolo)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-kill-and-eat-a-duck-from-the-local-park/112371/16 "2002-06-05T01:25:40Z")
I know it’s the last person’s username, but it’s the question here. Public ducks aren’t half the nuisance that geese are. Plus with those geese you’ll get a much larger meal. And they’re slower and easier to catch. (Warning: they do put up a fight, though) Truthfully, I wouldn’t recommend either, for the social as well as legal repercussions. Plus the fact that they’ve been fed a diet of cigarette butts, funky fluids from the chemical plant upstream, and snacks from the pile of used diapers that you don’t see underwater. (I worked as a lifeguard at a lake once… you don’t want to know…) As for diseases, I think that’s the least of your worries. They’re much more prone to be mildly poisoned than diseased, at least compared to their farm-raised cousins. ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-kill-and-eat-a-duck-from-the-local-park/112371/17 "2002-06-05T02:22:28Z")
If you just want to experience the killing of a helpless animal, you could probably buy a duck or chicken from a farmer and just take it home and kill it with a knife or ax. You could also get a rabbit from a pet store. (Hmmmm, floppy-eared rabbit stew) That way you would not have the legal issues to worry about. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-kill-and-eat-a-duck-from-the-local-park/112371/18 "2002-06-05T02:25:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mangomerlot \* > I know there are legal repercussions if I am caught killing ducks at the park, but would it be safe to eat one if cooked properly? We know who you are and the alarm has been quacked! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![WiseOldMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/898d66/32.png) [@WiseOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WiseOldMan)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-kill-and-eat-a-duck-from-the-local-park/112371/19 "2002-06-05T04:58:45Z")
Stick to the pigeons, they have fewer supporters. ---
**Author:** ![Ms.Fisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Ms.Fisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Fisk)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-kill-and-eat-a-duck-from-the-local-park/112371/20 "2002-06-05T05:05:36Z")
And easier to make a meal out of. A duck will feed at least four to six people, and you don’t want to make all your friends eat the poisoned meat–that is your adventure. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-kill-and-eat-a-duck-from-the-local-park/112371.md?page=2)