Mallard ducks are one of the most common and widespread duck species in North America. As an abundant backyard bird and popular game species, mallards interact with humans and the economy in many ways. Some key facts about mallard ducks:
- There are around 10-20 million mallard ducks in North America.
- They are a migratory species that breed in the northern U.S. and Canada and winter in the southern U.S. and Mexico.
- Mallards are the most hunted duck species, with around 2 million harvested per year in the U.S.
- They are also commonly raised on game bird farms for hunting preserves.
- Backyard pond owners often keep mallards as pets.
As such a numerous and widely distributed species, mallard ducks have significant economic impacts through hunting, bird watching, agriculture, and backyard ponds.
Hunting
Mallard hunting generates significant economic activity in the U.S. As the most popular game duck, mallards attract large numbers of waterfowl hunters each year. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, there are around 1.2 million waterfowl hunters in the U.S. These hunters:
- Spend $1.3 billion annually on trip and equipment expenditures for waterfowl hunting.
- Harvest around 15 million ducks total each year, of which around 2 million are mallards.
- Generate $3.18 billion in overall economic activity from waterfowl hunting recreation.
A good deal of this economic activity comes specifically from hunting mallards. Mallards comprise about 13% of the total U.S. duck harvest each year. Based on their proportion of the harvest, hunting mallards likely:
- Generates around $450 million in trip and equipment expenditures.
- Contributes $410 million of the $3.18 billion in total economic activity.
This activity ripples throughout many sectors of the economy:
- Retailers selling hunting equipment and apparel.
- Hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality near hunting areas.
- Guides and outfitters providing waterfowl hunting trips.
- Taxidermists stuffing trophies.
- Sporting clubs focused on waterfowl hunting.
In addition to wild mallard hunting, game bird hunting preserves centered around pen-raised mallards are a lucrative business. These hunting ranches charge fees for hunters to bag mallards and other duck species bred and raised on-site. A single duck hunting ranch can generate hundreds of thousands of dollars or more in annual revenue.
Bird Watching
While not specifically tracked, mallards certainly contribute to the booming bird watching industry as well. There are around 45 million birders in the U.S according to the 2016 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. This industry generates around $41 billion in trip and equipment expenditures each year.
Mallards are one of the most easily observed and recognizable duck species, commonly occurring in city parks and backyards. Their prevalence likely attracts many casual and serious bird watchers alike. Birding events centered specifically on waterfowl, such as the annual Flyway Festivals, draw tourism spending to the communities that host them.
Agriculture
Mallards cause some significant damage to agricultural crops as well. These ducks often feed in grain fields during fall and winter. Research in North Dakota and Canada estimates than an average mallard consumes about 227g of wheat per day.
With a North American mallard population around 10-20 million, this species could be consuming 2,270 to 4,540 metric tons of wheat per day. At a commodity price of $5.50 per bushel, that equates to $128,000 to $255,000 in lost revenue daily for wheat farmers whose fields are visited by mallards.
Other field crops like corn, rice, barley, and oats likely see similar losses. Exact totals are hard to pin down, but with their abundance mallards certainly have a high economic impact on North American agriculture.
Backyard Ponds
The popularity of backyard ponds has grown enormously over recent decades. There are now over 2 million backyard ponds in the U.S. One key motivation for pond owners is attracting beautiful wildlife like mallard ducks. Having mallards take up residence is considered a sign of great success by many pond owners.
These backyard duck ponds generate significant sales for retailers of pond liners, pumps, plants, fish, and other supplies. Backyard ponds also stimulate demand for services like construction, cleaning, maintenance, and landscaping. The desire to attract mallard ducks certainly contributes to this thriving backyard pond industry.
| Industry | Annual Economic Impact of Mallards |
|---|---|
| Hunting | $410 million |
| Bird Watching | Some portion of $41 billion |
| Agriculture | $128,000 – $255,000 daily crop damage |
| Backyard Ponds | Billions in retail sales |
Conclusion
As a ubiquitous duck species, mallards interact with people and the economy in many ways. Through recreation like hunting and birdwatching, crop depredation on agriculture, and attracting interest in backyard ponds, mallard ducks have a significant economic footprint across North America. Exact totals are difficult to pin down, but the combined impact likely amounts to billions of dollars annually. Mallards are thus an iconic and economically important bird, woven into many facets of outdoor recreation and commerce on the continent. Their abundance and recognizability will likely continue to tie mallards to human activities for the foreseeable future.
