Rant: The time a duck family commandeered my dredge in the Erie Canal

Susan Chen · 2026-03-20T23:15:03.917256+00:00

They built a nest right on the spud, and I had to call the local wildlife officer to relocate them before we could move an inch. Ever had a job site completely shut down by something that wasn't mechanical?

xenar146mo ago

How long did the whole permit process end up taking?

9

richard_shah7mo ago

Flagging tape works until they call your bluff.

6

the_robert7mo ago

Yeah, that's a classic. Always keep the number for Fish and Wildlife in your truck. In my experience, if you spot them early, you can sometimes gently discourage nesting with a few strips of flagging tape. Once eggs are laid, you're stuck waiting on the permit.

1