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

[Imperrysmum]

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?

If it’s these 2 guys, definitely call the police.
Rabbit, duck, varmint. They just don’t care.
Otherwise, probably let it go. I can’t imagine there’s a massive market for Mallard. If you feel like going all Miss Marple maybe steak (ahem) out the local butcher. I think Mallard contraband might fetch about a quid these days. Unless of course they’re stealing to order for Joey Tribiani.

@nonmerci That would mean you'd have to be one of the people lurking around the park too. 😀

Any update on your findings OP?

At least they’re not hanging about streets with a high population of cats, with a butterfly net 😺

I'm sure someone has pointed this out but wild ducks don't make great eating and there is a finite supply.
There is an easier way to get food

This could be a real thing. There have been restaurant/takeaway owners near me who have been caught stealing sheep from the fields and illegally slaughtering them on the floor of a car wash. I don't know why you think it's funny?

I would be more inclined to assume they're off loading waste ? Oil maybe

This!

Any update @Imperrysmum ??
I’m with you - sounds like they’re definitely trying to steal ducks.
This happened where I used to live, there was a small river running behind a takeaway.

Yes Tulip..

Whatever makes you feel you've got the moral high ground.

Whatever!!

Did I hit a soft spot?
But absolutely, i feel like I have a higher moral ground over someone who sneaks into an closed park with a dangerous dog and accuses people of snatching ducks for their business just because they may or may not work in a local takeaway, that comment already screamed racism and classism at the very best.

Have you been arrested for skulking in the bushes of a locked park OP?

Can’t believe what I’m reading or gnat the op is hiding out in bushes. 😂

Nope, just like many other dear readers of Mums net, getting a little bored of the extreme responses to people posting, in some cases genuine concerns, for others just something they found amusing and thought they'd share.

It would be nice if posters could take their finger off the launch button and think before responding.

Original poster has been questioned on:

Why she has a xl bully
Why she's on the park/playground at time of the morning
Possible being racist as she suspects they're poaching

And I could go on and on and on.....

But back to basics here, rather than firing allegations around freely, it would be nice if deat readers could be a bit supportive of other Mums please as it is meant to be a space for people to share without judgement.

So pious panties off pls

I’d rather see a couple of blokes sat feeding ducks than a weirdo walking a highly dangerous dog at 4am in the morning. Please keep us updated otherwise we’ll assume your dog has killed you

Yes, of course it did
Clearly they have moved on from ats, which was the racist trope of the 70s
This post was a barely-disguised racist pop

Do people really think that land that doesn't belong to them counts as "private property" and therefore their dogs will be exempt from dangerous dog laws when they're there? 😆

As for the rest of the thread, the binoculars shot makes me think you're trolling, op. But I agree it's not that unlikely that free meat may be a temptation to someone running a takeaway, not sure why everyone this that's such a crazy idea!

I would be more suspicious of you, with a dangerous dog.

But this posted has a dog, not a baby- so why would I be supportive of a 'mum'- since it has notghing to do with maternity, more with curtain twitching and gossiping about... two dudes sitting in a park by a pond. OP has no proof they are poaching, it's all based on a fact she recognises them from a local takeaway = they are suspicious, unlike her, who walks a dog in the same park where she should not have been.
I had a neighbour who tried to report to police a 'suspiciously looking Middle Eastern guy' for sitting in a parked car as she thought he was osberving houses on the street. Turns out he was waiting for his mother to take her to hospital.
OP needs to get her finger off the launch button, not people who question her motivation for reporting the men.

Because takeaways buy meat in bulk and go through kilograms of them a day, and one sad single duck would not really be an amazing saving?

I believed you up until the covert picture.

however on the off chance this is true (live near a canal, some of the animal abuse is abhorrent). Your police should have a wildlife officer, they will be massively over stretched as they cover huge areas. They are the people who would deal with this.

Surprised at the answers here, the OP is being responsible and looking after local amenities. OP - you must keep yourself safe. Suggest you report it to your local councillor and to the park keeper if there is one, and also to the Parks and Gardens department of your local council.

Perhaps mention it to your neighbours? Here we had instances of people catching carp in the local ponds. It's stealing if nothing else and deletes the local wildlife. Good luck.

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

Just getting them in a row.

The people catching g fish here were found to be homeless.

Looking after local amenities. By hiding in bushes at 4am with binocular and a x, bully, 😂