Duck Range Expansion Causes Rice Crop Damage in Louisiana

Black-bellied whistling ducks, native to Mexico, Central America, and South America, are expanding their range across the United States, including the Gulf Coast and the Midwest. In Louisiana, rice farmers have reported damage caused by the growing population of these birds. Researchers note that milder winters and changing rice-growing patterns may be contributing factors to this expansion, though the exact reasons are uncertain.

The increasing population of the ducks has raised agricultural and wildlife management concerns in Louisiana. The expansion of the species, which was historically restricted to a few counties in South Texas, is transforming it into a widespread breeding species.