Denise Arasin first became involved in the intriguing world of ducks and geese in San Diego in 1995 when she volunteered at Project Wild Life there. At the time they needed some one in the Duck Department and she became a Team Leader. She worked with her team in rescuing these abandoned or injured birds and returning them to the wild. One year the team rehabilitated over one thousand birds
She came to realize that there is a great difference between the needs of abandoned domesticated fowl and the wild birds. The plight of the domestic birds touched her and she decided to specialize in rescuing these abandoned domestic ducks and geese. These birds cannot fly or protect themselves from predators. They will cross breed with wild fowl and produce flightless birds that cannot avoid predators or leave the area when there is a lack of food, thus adding more pollution in the water than the wild birds will.
When Denise moved to the Santa Cruz area in 2003, she worked with California Parks and County Parks to post signs asking people not to leave domestic ducks and birds in the waterways. They succeeded in gradually removing the domestic ducks and geese from Schwan Lagoon and finding good homes for them through Duck Lovers Adoptions. Not only did this benefit the ducks and geese, it also helped the condition of the lagoon itself by reducing the pollution and over crowding caused by birds that cannot fly.
Denise has been called out for a rescue at night or during a storm. Often lifeguards, members of the Highway Patrol and the Capitola Police Department, especially Officer Chad Keene, have helped her.
Following the removal of the domestic birds from Schwan Lagoon, wild birds that have been missing are now returning to the lagoon. They include a white pelican, cormorants, grebes, sea ducks and surf scooters.
Denise oversees the adoptions, looking for good matches. Her standards for the adopting parties are high. They must promise to provide a fenced yard, a predator proof enclosure and long time care as a pet.
For twenty years she has maintained a web site with photos of the available birds while proving a temporary home for them. She maintains one of only five Duck Refuges in the United States. At one time, she was providing shelter for 86 birds. This is a Good Will operation with no charge for participants. She does welcome donations and the money is used for food and medicine for the birds. “Fill the Bucket” donation spots are located in Aptos Feed Store, Scotts Valley Feed Store and West Side Feed Store.
Thanks to Denise’s efforts, many ducks and geese have been placed in good homes to live out their lives as pets. They are intelligent creatures with varied personalities and make good pets. Some stores now sell diaper harnesses and special beds for those who keep their feathered friends in the house. Geese can live to the age of 30 and a duck can live to be 18 or 20.
One of her most interesting adoptions was the one made by Dr. Sue Kim, a member of Doctors Without Borders. Dr. Kim adopted a small flock of eight Ebden geese and flew them home to Sacramento inside her airplane, with the geese looking out the windows as they soared through the air.
Denise brings her two pet ducks and a pet rabbit to her garden plot in Mid County Senior Center, where they are available to other gardeners to remove snails, slugs and other bugs. These three are very friendly and non-destructive. The ducks go about the gardens working the soil, and their compost can be used to enrich the soil. And, they don’t eat the veggies. They are a handsome pair and like to be petted. Pooka is a 12 year old white crested female, and the male, Jade, is a four year old Indian Runner clad in glossy black feathers with purple and green highlights. The bunny is a Mini Rex Rabbit named Arby.
Denise has taken her pets and given talks to children in schools and parks in the area to teach compassion and explain the interesting facts about wild and domestic fowl.
In the parks, the children will come running when she drives up in her van. She is available to give talks and demonstrations to groups of all ages.
The following birds are available for adoption at this time:
- 12 Indian Runners –Tall black ducks with purple and green highlights.
- “Mom and Pop” – a pair of ten-year-old Pekin ducks who need a retirement home.
- 2 male Pekin ducks. (They look like the Aflac Duck on TV.)
Call or Email Denise Arasin at 831-334-6376 [email protected]. Or visit her website www.duckloversadoption.org. Her new website provides links to information including some innovative new type duck shelters.
Denise is looking for property to lease for this project.