Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center President Becky Harger, pictured, admitted to shooting her neighbor’s pet duck.
Smugglers Cove subdivision resident Carla Encarnacion says she is devastated after a neighbor fatally shot her 10-month-old pet duck, Maverick. Becky Harger, president of the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center, has admitted to intentionally shooting the duck, asserting it was “extremely aggressive” and that she was within her rights to do so.
Harger told South Santa Rosa News she’s been dealing with invasive Muscovy ducks in their neighborhood for about a year and that the Homeowners Association hasn’t taken action despite a couple of complaint letters. Harger says the ducks defecate on her pier and that her dog licked some of the feces, causing him to go into a coma for three days – although he did recover. She said she had tried other deterrants, including applying peppermint mouthwash.
Harger also asserted 7-8 people had been attacked by the ducks.
Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office records show police first responded to the shooting in the 1700 block of Smugglers Cove Drive on February 18. Per SRSO, the investigation was taken over by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, which has not yet responded to an April 1 request for related reports.
Harger said SRSO followed up again last week, and she claims she was told the killing was justified.
According to Harger, on the morning of the shooting, she was walking her dogs when Maverick started coming toward her. “No, it’s not going down like this,” she recounted, adding, “I know how to protect myself. I’m not stupid.”
Encarnacion provided the following video, which was recorded by construction workers across the pond and appears to show Harger placing Maverick inside a large black bag.
“She bagged (Maverick) into a trash bag while (he) was still alive after being intentionally and inhumanely shot with a .22 pistol,” stated Encarnacion.
CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO **WARNING: CONTAINS PROFANITY**
“The video is heartbreaking and maddening to watch,” Encarnacion said. “It was taken by one of the construction workers that had to take cover from the ricocheting bullets as she was shooting the duck. If you zoom in you can see Maverick was still alive…Mavy was my pet, and he or any animal does not deserve a cruel death like this.”
Graphic shows the construction site, where police responded, located on the west side of the pond across from Harger’s pier. One of the construction workers reported the shooting.
Encarnacion went on to say she hopes charges will be brought against Harger for discharging a weapon in a residential neighborhood. “She could have killed a person that day. She was careless in discharging the .22 and had no idea anyone was around.” Additionally, Encarnacion hopes Harger will face animal cruelty charges.
At this time no known enforcement has been taken by FWC or SRSO.
