Ducklings rescued in Dorchester amid fear of youth attacks

Derek Davey, 65, rescued a group six ducklings from a fountain outside Tesco Supermarket on Weymouth avenue in Dorchester. 

After reading reports on Facebook about ducklings that had been born in the fountain, Derek rushed to rescue them.

He expressed concerns not only of the unsuitable living conditions in the fountain but also due to the increase in youth attacks on birdlife in the area. 

READ MORE: Dorchester Police report increase in catapult bird attacks

He said: "Unfortunately ducks tend to nest in stupid places. They normally all walk to find water somewhere so they all jumped in fountain.

"There's no natural food there at all and nowhere to hid away from predators like gulls and corvids. If I left them there they’d be eaten in 24 hours."

Rescued ducklings (Image: Derek Davey)

"They will be hand reared and then release back into the wild but it can't be in Dorchester river because of all the morons there who want to attack them."

Police have stepped up patrols at the riverside walk along the Frome in Dorchester following reports of anti-social behaviour - including a shocking attack on a duck using a catapult.

 Mr Davey describes the attacks as "sick" and is calling for more CCTV to be installed to prevent these attacks on birdlife. 

He said: “It's been going on for four years. They need to put cameras up or do stop and searches to prevent the attacks from happening. It's mostly seabirds they attack and it's sickening.

"It's evil that they can do this to animals at such a young age. Actions like that will only breed more violence and it's not good at all." 

Mr Davey has been rescuing birdlife for more than 25 years, and has rescued more than sixty ducklings this year alone. 

In April this year, he took four herring gulls into his care which were thought to have been deliberately run over, kicked in the head, and shot at.

READ MORE: Seagulls found with horrific injuries from attacks

When asked about concerns of separating the ducklings from their mother, he stressed that they had to be removed from the environment because they were so vulnerable. 

Gull that was kicked in the head (Image: Derek Davey)

He added: "I did try and catch the mum but because she can fly she was unwilling to be caught. 

“They were born that day and the survival rate for ducklings is quite low because they can be predated by gulls or cars can run them over.

“I aways look at area and situation they're in, how vulnerable they were it was a case of either step in or let them die. I talked to the Tesco manager's beforehand to ask permission before removing them. They would have had a zero chance of survival.

"Anyone who finds an injured bird should contact wildlife rescue centres. There are many around to help if you have concerns. It's the best thing to do."