Duck Builds Nest in Front of Plano Grocery Store

Animal experts are warning people in Plano about not bothering a nesting duck.

The female mallard is protecting 13 eggs in the parking lot of a Tom Thumb store, where she has attracted extra attention.

“We thought we better come see it before they hatched,” said shopper Mark Peterman of Plano. “We all want her to do well.”

Business owners in the shopping center said the mother duck appeared during the week of the ice storms, and they are concerned the ducklings will not survive the trek out of the parking lot once they hatch.

"She is going to take them with her to look for water and we're worried about her getting hit by a car," shopper Andrea Droning said.

The more immediate concern, however, is that excessive human interest in the duck may cause her to abandon her nest.

According to Plano Animal Services Director Jamey Cantrell, the best advice to humans is to leave the duck alone.

“They won’t survive at all on their own if they don’t have their mother there,” Cantrell said.

Because the nesting bird is federally protected, Plano Animal Services cannot remove or move the nest.

Cantrell said the city will only get involved if the mother duck starts leading the babies into traffic, but even that would a difficult situation.

There have been suggestions about putting up a fence.

However, NBC 5 has learned that would be up to the property owner.

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