A security guard at Reflections at Pembroke Pines recently aided a wildlife trapper in legally capturing and euthanizing invasive Muscovy ducks.

Pembroke Pines Police were called to the condo complex at about 2:30 a.m. May 18 after residents heard a commotion and confronted the trapper, who was hired by the management company.

Ron Rollins, a Reflections resident since 2003, was horrified by what woke him.

“Some of these ducks were mother ducks with young ducklings,” he said. “A dozen young ducklings (were) desperately calling for their mother outside my unit. I think it’s a travesty to do this sort of thing to begin with, a travesty that they leave the offspring to fend for themselves. “

The management company, The CREAM Group, and the property manager could not be reached for comment.

Euthanizing Muscovy ducks is legal under federal law. Neil Vaughan, assistant police chief, referenced the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which prohibits relocating Muscovy ducks but allows for their euthanasia.

“Unfortunately, the police department does not have authority under the law to stop such action,” he said.

The ducks have to be killed humanely, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Travis Todd, a trapper with AAA Trapping Services, declined to specify methods but described his preference as “quick, quiet and humane.”

Todd, who was not the trapper at Reflections, said he receives at least one inquiry about duck removals each week.

“It’s one of the more popular requests I get,” he said. “They probably cause the most damage of any nuisance animals besides rats.”

The FWC considers Muscovies to be “undesirable in the wild” due to the spreading of diseases to or interbreeding with native waterfowl populations.

“They eat our native insects and plants, which affects our ecosystem,” Todd said. “You hardly see mallard ducks anymore. A Muscovy will grab a mallard and throw it across the yard.”

City Commissioner Jay Schwartz wants to see the federal law changed to allow trappers to relocate them.

“I don’t condone such behavior,” he said of the Reflections incident. “Relocation is the most humane and appropriate way to handle this, but federal law needs to change to do that.”

Schwartz also referenced a city ordinance prohibiting feeding ducks, an action many often disobey.

“You can keep most of them out of your yard as long as you aren’t feeding them,” Todd said.

Fallan Patterson can be reached at .