Do Ducks Eat Spiders? As Sure As Eggs Is Eggs!
So, do ducks eat spiders or not? Certainly, they eat! Their wild and opportunist nature makes them eat spiders or any other insects. Also, as a natural foragers, they consume such crawlers. In particular, muscovies contribute as a pest killer by clearing spiders in the ground. So, environmental benefits are there!
If you scroll down a little, you’ll find some surprising facts about ducks and spiders in nature. Hope you’ll find something new today!
Table of Contents
Do Ducks Eat Spiders? What Happens When They Interact?
Yes, ducks eat spiders. Some ugly truth you don’t know is ducks are cold-blooded but with wildness inside. So, spiders are not safe if they confront the backyard duck or geese. They’ll surely get eaten!
It happens due to some facts I cannot avoid. Let us tell you why!
- Omnivore Nature: For ducks crave for variety of foods in nature, they eat spiders or insects.
- Opportunist Forager: Ducks are natural foragers and opportunist eaters! If ducks see any spider in the front, they take it and swallow it right away.
- Ducks Habitat: Ducks roam around the lakes, wetlands, ponds, or in the yard. If they see spiders there, they won’t let them go since they’re fond of small invertebrates. But not the active searcher of spiders! Keep this in mind.
- Spiders Are Small Prey: Ducks are birds of prey! So, with their tiny mouth and bills, they’ll eat them.
- Ducks Need Protein Source: Ducks are protein finders in nature! They may also eat spiders for protein intake which is a part of their daily need. But I think if ducks eat fish, it will give them more proteins.
- Ducklings Imitating Behavior: Baby ducks try to learn from their mothers. So, they try to do the same if they see adult ducks catching spiders.
- Wildness in Duck: Sometimes ducks just destroy the spider web and eat spiders for having their wild nature.
Recommended Read: How Much Protein Do Ducks Need
Is It Safe For Ducks To Eat Spider? Of Course!
Except for some venomous spider species, ducks will easily swallow all eight-legged creatures. It’s quite natural that ducks eat small spiders, other insects, or bugs.
But when they see large spiders, they may try to avoid them or show their defensive behavior to protect themselves. Or if they somehow try to swallow, they’ll encounter digestion difficulties or get sick of toxicity.
Venomous Spider in Wild: Do Ducks Eat Wolf Spiders?
Yes, ducks won’t let the agile wolf spiders go. What I mean is ducks eat them anywhere they find them. Although they’re so fast and similar to dangerous-looking tarantulas. They just don’t care about it! They’ll hunt it if it seems to fit in their bills!
Based on NLM research, tarantulas toxicity is rarely found, So, it’s confirmed that ducks in the wild will eat them too. The thing is tarantulas look dangerous but not venomous enough if they bite.
However, you should also know that wolf spiders are larger so they may show predatorial behavior over ducks. They’ll try to bite your fowl for their own safety. Therefore, keep your eyes open when you have backyard ducks.
North American Waterfowl: Can Mallard Ducks Eat Spider?
Ducks enjoy insects or invertebrates, so Mallard is no exception. They’ll eat spiders in the wild or somewhere they find.
Based on the Wildlife Society Bulletin, mallards require 70 to 120 g of grains each day. Besides, they require other food sources to nourish their health. If they lack nutrients, mallards will eat spiders to have some protein intake.
Take a look, at how ducks pick spiders and eat them!
Domesticated Bird: Will Muscovy Ducks Eat Spider?
Surprisingly, muscovy ducks eat spiders to contribute to the environment. They work to kill pests by eating small creatures and insects like crawlers in the ground. And the fact is spiders don’t pose any risks!
Such ducks consume spiders or other invertebrates. Through droppings, it becomes nutrients of soil for the nutrient cycle in nature.
Think About Ruddy Duck: Do They Eat Spiders Too?
North American ruddy ducks in the wild look for aquatic invertebrates like zooplankton, crustaceans, and creatures like spiders. While foraging or roaming around the ponds, lakes, or wetlands, they may eat some spiders.
But it’s not their general part of the food. Rather, they eat as an opportunist.
Most Poisonous One: Do Ducks Eat Funnel Web Spiders?
According to Guinness World Records, Eastern Australian Sydney funnel-web spiders are the most venomous spiders in the world. So, if you see any, just keep the ducks away!
Although I didn’t find any research based on ducks consuming such venomous ones, I assume it’s totally unsafe for ducks. In general, the venomous nature seems to look like they’re attacking as a predator.
Will Ducks Swallow Spider Eggs? Yes!
You’ll see ducks’ wildness and omnivore nature along with dabbling and filter-feeding activities. This indicates they are gonna eat not only eat spiders but also their eggs and webs.
Usually, while foraging in ponds, wetlands, or yards, they consume spider eggs. But it’s not their targeted food source!
Young Ducks Wildness: Can Baby Ducks Eat Spiders?
Yes, young ducks can eat spiders while following their mother’s nature. And you may know ducklings’ primary requirements are small invertebrates and aquatic vegetation. So, small spiders will get eaten as well.
I saw ducklings mimicking the mothers’ foraging and eating behavior. Although spiders are not a big source of nutrients, they’ll likely eat the crawlers.
But please, monitor baby ducks not having large spiders. It’s risky for them!
Spiders As Ducks Food Source: What Are The Beneficial Facts?
If ducks catch some spiders and swallow them, it’s natural. The environment needs a balance in the ecosystem, ensured by the duck’s eats spider process. However, we found multiple beneficial facts in it.
- Various Nutrients: As we said earlier, spiders can be an addition of protein for the duck’s health. Eating spiders like tarantula, can provide nutrients such as protein, zinc, and folic acid. Nowadays, such spiders are sold in Cambodian restaurants.
- Help Immunity: According to the National Library of Medicine Research, they found immune priming in two arachnids where one is the wolf spider (Lycosa cerrofloresiana) and the other one is scorpion (Centruroides granosus). However, for ingesting probiotic arthropods or some other small creatures, ducks immunity gets better.
- Play The Role Of Food Web: If ducks eat spiders, the ecosystem remains in balance. It was said before and again since it’s a noteworthy point!
Are Spiders Toxic For Ducks? Yes, Some Species!
The majority of spiders are not toxic and non-lethal but some of them may be a threat to ducks. To make you concerned, let me tell you some names of venomous spiders.
- Sydney Funnel Web Spider
- Wold Spider
- Red Widow Spider
- Brown Widow Spider
- Black Widow Spider
- Brown Recluse Spider
- Hobo Spider
- Brazilian Wandering Spider.
How To Keep Ducks Stay Away From Spiders?
If you are afraid of spiders that may hurt your duck, follow some ideas we’re including.
- Keep spider-friendly locations!
- You may add barriers or nets in the yard to block the ducks from entering the spider’s area.
- A good idea would be to use natural deterrents or non-toxic repellents. All you have to do is fill up a spray bottle with enough water. Then, you add 10 to 15 drops of citrus or peppermint essential oils and 5 drops of dishwashing soap. Shake it and spray it in the place where you don’t want spiders.
- Ensure Ducks Get Enough food and nutrients. If they lack the nutrients, they look for food sources. You can let the duck eat in the water. Ponds or rivers have plenty of natural food sources for ducks.
Related Readings:
FAQs
You may check some frequently asked questions to have more knowledge on ducks and spiders in nature.
Q. Do Ducks Seek Out For Spider Actively?
No, ducks are not active seekers of spiders. They may swallow some spiders while they forage for a food source.
Q. Are Ducks A Predator Of Spiders?
No, ducks are not predators of spiders. They are opportunists who eat bugs, insects, or creatures like spiders while coming across them.
Q. How Do Ducks Eat Spider?
Ducks use their bill to swallow the spiders. Sometimes they shred them into small pieces for easy consumption.
Closing The Article: Do Ducks Eat Spiders?
In short, we find ducks eat spiders as a go-getter who swallows anything they find while foraging. But it’s not a big contributor to their health except for a few good. But ducks contribute to the ecosystem and environment balance.
However, my preference is to avoid them to eat spiders since some of them are venomous particularly, the Sydney Funnel. For this, I’ve shared some ideas to keep ducks away. But, if you see them swallowing spiders, don’t worry. Most of the spiders found in ducks’ habitats won’t harm waterfowl.
Sources And References:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557667/
- https://www.jstor.org/stable/3781403
