FOR eight years the residents of Forest Glen in South Gladstone have collectively cared for a group of muscovy ducks who made the community their home.

The 25 ducks were "friendly" and an attraction at the park because parents would bring their children to feed and pat the tame animals.

But on Friday Michelle Fowler got a letter from Gladstone Regional Council explaining an investigation into the animals had been launched after complaints were lodged.

The ducks were taken away that same day.

They had been found to pose a traffic risk and were impacting the native wildlife.

The letter read: "It was decided to remove the feral domestic ducks to assist the native waterfowl in re-establishing their natural habitat including nesting locations and food sources. The feral domestic ducks are going to be removed with plans in place to re-house them."

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Ms Fowler says the letters were being handed out as the ducks were being taken away.

"The way they handled it really bugged me," she said.

"A lot of people are really upset. I'm disgusted they didn't give us the opportunity to do something about it. If there were complaints, then for my own peace of mind I would have looked at having them moved to friends' properties rather than wonder if they had been destroyed. It leaves a bitter taste in your mouth the way they did it."

Gladstone Regional Council's director of planning and environment Leisa Dowling reassured the community about the safety of the ducks and said they would stay with a wildlife carer until they could be re-homed.

She said the ducks had been congregating on the road and one female had to be treated for a broken leg after it was hit by a car.

The larger ducks also posed a threat to the native species because they were aggressive and could inter-breed.

"Council received complaints that the ducks were breeding out of control and there were health concerns from their faeces transmitting diseases to children using playground equipment, park users and to residential property," Ms Dowling said.

"The community was informed of the removal and re-homing of the ducks to a rural property."

Wild ducks of Queensland:

•  Freckled duck (native)
•  Australian shelduck (native)
•  Radjah (Burdekin) shelduck (native)
•  Australian wood duck (native)
•  Grey teal (native)
•  Chestnut teal (native)
•  Mallard (introduced)
•  Pacific black duck (migratory)
•  Garganey (migratory)
•  Australian shoveler (native)
•  Pink-eared duck (native)
•  Hardhead aka white-eyed duck (native)
•  Blue-billed duck (native - near-threatened)
•  Musk duck (native)
•  Spotted whistling-duck (migratory)
•  Plumed whistling-duck (native)
•  Wandering whistling-duck (migratory)