MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (WTNH) — Animal Control officers in Middletown say three young domestic ducks are now in safe care after they were allegedly abandoned at Butternut Park.

The chirping of little chicks. Most kids find them very cute.

“Yes of course,” said 8-year-old Emma Schoendorf of North Haven.

Even she knows they would not survive if they were left out in the wild.

“They don’t have any food and like no one could take care to them,” said Schoendorf.

But last week a park worker in Middletown found three little Peking ducklings by the pond at Butternut Park.

“They were purchased more than likely as an Easter gift,” said Middletown police officer Jason Bodell.

The city’s animal control officers figure the new owners didn’t realize how much work went into raising ducks or how messy they can be so they left them in the park with their wild counterparts. But unlike them, domestic ducks and bunnies won’t survive especially young ones.

“These particular ducklings didn’t have they’re second coat of feathers which not only keep them warm but help them swim in the water and at night these particular ducks still need heat lamps,” said Bodell.

Even adults need to be fed grains and cannot find food on their own so they will not survive.

Shortly after animal control officers got the three ducks they were able to place them with a person who has experience raising ducks. 

There are people out there who know how to properly take care for these domestic animals. So if you don’t know how, police say give them or your local veterinarian a call and they’ll find the right person to care for them

“They think they’re doing the right thing by putting them out in the wild but actually you’re doing more harm than good,” said Bodell.

So police and animal control want people to know if you get a duck or a rabbit for Easter and they are too much for you to handle, find another responsible home or call animal control. Do not release them into the wild because they will not survive.