Matilda

This is the story of Matilda. Matilda is a female mallard duck who moved into the Dovey household a couple of weeks ago. She certainly is an anomaly by "wild animal" standards. A couple of weeks ago, Matilda was seen swimming around June and Bob's pool. At first, they thought it was just one of those weird things where the duck "stopped by" to look for food--perhaps some cheese and "quackers" (sorry . . .I couldnt resist). But, the next day, Matilda was there again, hanging out in the pool, walking on the deck, and defecating just about everywhere she could. Uncle Bob, excited at the new "pet," went out to Agway to buy some cracked corn, came back, and set Matilda up with a sweet scene--bowls of water and feed, her own duck pool, and the whole works.

The whole situation is pretty amazing to watch. Matilda is completely "tame" and docile--even outgoing. She swims in the pool all day, sits on Aunt June's lap while she sits on the deck, and even waddles up the screen door because I think she wants to come inside and watch QVC. As you can see from the pictures, she loves to be held and pet--and she LOVES her new friend Abby, with whom she swims in the pool. So, we've got a 170 Newfie and a 3 pound mallard--but they say opposites attract. When Abby goes in the pool, so does Matilda. When Abby gets out, so does Matilda.

We love having her around, but, unfortunately, I think will be going back to the wild soon. She is "tatooing" the deck and pool liner with remnants of whatever she eats, and we all want to go in the pool and not get a parasite! But Matilda IS the SWEETEST (and only) duck I've ever known.