- March 6, 2025
The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission says using pellet or airsoft guns is a legal method to remove nuisance populations of some animals.
BY MATT MENCARINI | STAFF WRITER
Legal animal removal methods have been called into question.
The Ormond Beach Police Department is investigating a May 3 incident, involving Trutech Inc., after animal cruelty allegations were made about the company’s methods of removing Muscovy ducks from a pond in the Trails subdivision.
Results of the investigation, which could be completed this week, will be sent to the State’s Attorney’s Office to determine if charges will be filed.
Trutech, a wildlife removal company, was hired by the Trails Homeowners Association to remove the ducks, which had become a nuisance in the community.
Patricia Mihalic, a witness, told police Trutech workers had shot several ducks with “pellet rifles” and that some of the ducks had been wounded and left to die.
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission officers, who were contacted by police after the incident was reported, said, “No violation of state statutes or wildlife rules and regulations had been committed,” according to the police report.
Joy Hill, a spokesperson with the conservation commission, also confirmed that pellet rifles and airsoft guns are “legal methods” for removing ducks from an area.
Jason Burkhard, the Trutech regional manager, based out of Georgia, said the company uses pellet or airsoft guns when necessary, but that any wounded or dead ducks should have been removed, according to the police report.
The homeowners association has since canceled the contract with Trutech, and its president, Ken Nelson, declined to comment further.
“Consistent with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission protocols, we worked with the Homeowners Association to remove the ducks,” Martha Craft, vice president of public relations and corporate communications for Rollins, Inc., Trutech’s parent company, said. “We are cooperating with Ormond Beach Animal Services and the Ormond Beach Police Department as they evaluate the ducks’ removal.”
The Animal Rights Foundation of Florida sent a letter to the Ormond Beach City Commission and Police Chief Andy Osterkamp expressing outrage at what it called a “cruel killing” and encouraging criminal charges to be filed.
Don Anthony, the group’s communications director, said there is a more efficient, inexpensive and humane way to remove ducks from an area.
By waiting until a mother has laid six or eight eggs and then removing them, Anthony said, the nuisance duck population can be reduced little by little.
“You’re never going to get rid of all of them unless you exterminate them and put a bubble around the city,” he said. “But there’s a humane way to do it.”
Muscovy ducks, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, are protected by Florida Statute 828.12 regarding animal cruelty. But since they were introduced to the area from domestic stocks, they aren’t considered “wildlife”.
