92 Ducks Illegally Released In New Jersey Nearly Ready For Adoption

SECAUCUS, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Nearly 100 domesticated ducks that officials said were illegally released in New Jersey are expected to be available for adoption early next week.

Tamala Lester, the founder of the Barnyard Sanctuary in Knowlton Township, told The Record that she's received more than 100 offers to adopt the 92 Khaki Campbell ducks.

The ducks will be available on Aug. 8 after they have been in quarantine for three weeks.

"They're great pets, they're very funny to watch," Lester told 1010 WINS. "For those people who eat eggs or who are allergic to chicken eggs, ducks are a great alternative."

Lester said they have about 42 male ducks.

"It seems like everybody wants the females and nobody wants males, so if there's anybody out there specifically that needs males you'll move up the waiting list," Lester said.

Each duck will be available for a $20 adoption fee.

"It will require a signed adoption contract that says that you can't kill them, eat them, breed them, give them away or anything like that and if you don't want them anymore they have to come back to us," Lester said. "If you've already got a duck, and you're just looking for one we'll adopt one. If you have no ducks you have to take two of more because they are flock animals and can't live alone."

The sanctuary will only adopt the ducks to places in New Jersey.

Authorities say they don't have new information into the investigation, which started last month, after a report of ducks being released into the Hackensack River. Many were found in the grass outside of the Mill Creek Mall in Secaucus.

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