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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to report this to the police, even though I am technically implicating myself?

769 replies

Imperrysmum · 10/08/2024 15:27

My local park is locked overnight and isn’t opened until 6am. It’s a huge park but in one area part of the fence is missing so I squeeze through and go into the park to walk my dog at 4am (he is an XL bully so I like to go the park when nobody is about)

The last few mornings when I have been walking round by the pond there have been a couple of men sitting on the benches next to the pond “feeding the ducks”. I noticed they have black bin liners next to them too. I’m pretty sure I recognise these men from working in a takeaway restaurant.

I am concerned they are trying to catch ducks. I hope i’m wrong, but I just can’t see why two adult men would sit feeding the ducks at 4am?! Especially as the park is officially closed and they have bin liners next to them.

AIBU to report this to the police, even though I’ll be implicating myself too?

OP posts:
ByCupidStunt · 10/08/2024 15:47

I definately think you should report it OP. It's not just duck they could be stealing, people also steal swans and perch for food re-sale.

BrownBirdWelcomesWhiteWave · 10/08/2024 15:47

Imperrysmum · 10/08/2024 15:42

How is stealing ducks an odd conclusion? 🤔
Please tell me the alternative scenario then….

-2 adult men at 4am
-Sitting on a bench in a locked park
-Encouraging ducks over with bread
-Have black bin bags next to them
-Recognise men from working in a takeaway that serves duck

Show quote history

Be serious

SeatonCarew · 10/08/2024 15:47

Jengnr · 10/08/2024 15:39

Stealing ducks? Why would you think that? It’s a very odd conclusion to jump to.

It seems a far more rational explanation to me, a former internal audit manager, than that two grown men have snuck into a closed park at 4am to feed the ducks. 🤷‍♀️

Cas112 · 10/08/2024 15:47

@Imperrysmum OP research duck used for cuisine 😂😭😭😭😭

If people was eating local pond duck I think they could tell

Delphiniumandlupins · 10/08/2024 15:47

Min133 · 10/08/2024 15:39

Surely this is a joke post right?! I've wasted a good few mins sitting here wondering how easy it'd be to catch a duck 😂 I can't image it'd be very easy. Perhaps you could let them borrow your dog l, that'd do it 🤷‍♀️

Yes. I don't think this is the easiest way to acquire a duck, quite labour-intensive actually.

OpheliaBaws · 10/08/2024 15:46

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10mins · 10/08/2024 15:46

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RockyRogue1001 · 10/08/2024 15:46

Fuck a duck!

(Which I'm sure the men are NOT doing!)

Flapearedknave · 10/08/2024 15:45

My mind actually went to them dumping waste.

I don't think ducks are that easy to catch? And who would they be stealing them from? Aren't ducks regularly hunted?

willowtolive · 10/08/2024 15:45

😂 good one

amylou8 · 10/08/2024 15:45

A whole duck, already dead, plucked and ready to cook is £9 in asda. Wholesale price is probably less. I think the likelihood they'd go to the trouble of catching, killing, plucking and gutting one from the pond to save a few quid is fairly slim.

AffIt · 10/08/2024 15:44

Tell me you've never had anything to do with ducks without telling me you've never had anything to do with ducks...

Trust me, it's hard enough to catch a domestic duck that doesn't want to be caught (even when you are the Two-Legged Dispenser of Yummy Things), never mind a wild mallard. 😄

WestminsterWanderer · 10/08/2024 15:43

Unlikely to be the right type of duck for most cuisine
also riddled with worms

Thesecretingredientiscrime · 10/08/2024 15:43

Min133 · 10/08/2024 15:39

Surely this is a joke post right?! I've wasted a good few mins sitting here wondering how easy it'd be to catch a duck 😂 I can't image it'd be very easy. Perhaps you could let them borrow your dog l, that'd do it 🤷‍♀️

Maybe they keep going back to the park night after night to gain those duckies trust. Then one day... BAM. Duck successfully in a bin bag.

Original poster
Imperrysmum · 10/08/2024 15:42

Jengnr · 10/08/2024 15:39

Stealing ducks? Why would you think that? It’s a very odd conclusion to jump to.

How is stealing ducks an odd conclusion? 🤔
Please tell me the alternative scenario then….

-2 adult men at 4am
-Sitting on a bench in a locked park
-Encouraging ducks over with bread
-Have black bin bags next to them
-Recognise men from working in a takeaway that serves duck

OP posts:
KrisAkabusi · 10/08/2024 15:42

It just wouldn't be worth their while! Hours spent at a pond to potentially catch the most stupid of the ducks. And have you any idea how long it takes to pluck and get the meat off a duck? And how small wild ducks are compared to ones farmed for food? It's far easier to just order from a supplier than go through what you're imagining they are doing.

Zoflorabore · 10/08/2024 15:40

I’m trying to work out what you’re thinking here- do you think the ducks are being stolen and then served at their takeaway?!

if so, I would avoid any meals including duck..

Putting · 10/08/2024 15:40

I’d wonder if the men were possibly sleeping rough in the park - my mind would not go to stealing ducks!

Branster · 10/08/2024 15:40

Min133 · 10/08/2024 15:39

Surely this is a joke post right?! I've wasted a good few mins sitting here wondering how easy it'd be to catch a duck 😂 I can't image it'd be very easy. Perhaps you could let them borrow your dog l, that'd do it 🤷‍♀️

Probably not that difficult if you were a fox.

Jengnr · 10/08/2024 15:39

Stealing ducks? Why would you think that? It’s a very odd conclusion to jump to.

10mins · 10/08/2024 15:39

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sunsetsandboardwalks · 10/08/2024 15:39

Imperrysmum · 10/08/2024 15:29

Suspicious behaviour and potentially stealing ducks?

Show quote history

What proof do you have except your over-active imagination?

Two men sitting on a bench with some bin bags aren't doing anything wrong Confused

Min133 · 10/08/2024 15:39

Surely this is a joke post right?! I've wasted a good few mins sitting here wondering how easy it'd be to catch a duck 😂 I can't image it'd be very easy. Perhaps you could let them borrow your dog l, that'd do it 🤷‍♀️

Branster · 10/08/2024 15:38

But if they are wild ducks, who's property are they? Who are they stealing from?
It's not like swans.
They probably feed them with leftovers from the shop at the end of their shift and must be wondering what is this weird person doing walking a dog at 4PM through a locked up park.
Next time, be there an hour earlier and observe the going ons: 2 tired men entering the park through a gap in the fence with bin liners full of leftover bread.

Gotabadfeelingaboutthis · 10/08/2024 15:37

I think you could report it but it would be unlikely that they would do much unless you've actually witnessed them stealing ducks.