11/07/2025
🦆 A heartfelt THANK YOU to Danny Kocab and all of Troop 121 for helping us build brand-new wood duck boxes!
Did you know wood ducks were once pushed to the brink of extinction because of habitat loss and unregulated market hunting in the late 1800s? Their remarkable comeback is thanks in large part to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, the efforts of hunters and conservationists, and the establishment of nest box programs across their breeding range.
Hunters have long played a vital role in wildlife conservation — through license sales, the Federal Duck Stamp Program, and excise taxes on hunting equipment that directly fund habitat restoration and management. These collective efforts have helped restore waterfowl populations and support programs like Rhode Island’s Wood Duck Box Program.
While natural nesting cavities are now more common on the landscape, the Division continues to maintain our nest box program, providing additional nesting opportunities for Rhode Island’s cavity-nesting ducks.
By building these boxes, Troop 121 is joining a long tradition of conservation stewardship — helping ensure these colorful ducks continue to thrive for generations to come!
👉 Learn more about the program here:https://dem.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur861/files/2025-05/2024%20Wood%20Duck%20Box%20Program%20Summary%20DRAFT.pdf
