The North Dakota Game and Fish Department reports a significant decline in the 2025 breeding duck population, with the index falling to approximately 2.66 million birds, down from 2.9 million in 2024. This year’s survey reflects the 33rd highest count on record but is accompanied by alarming drops, particularly among mallards, whose breeding population has plummeted 26% since last year—the lowest since 1993 according to migratory game bird supervisor Mike Szymanski.
The survey, conducted this spring, also highlights unfavorable wetland conditions as a factor in these declines, particularly for early migrators like mallards and pintails. With breeding habitats such as CRP and perennial grasses dwindling, Szymanski warns of potential repercussions on waterfowl populations that affect hunters across North America. As wetland counts remain lower than previous years, the Game and Fish Department urges a focus on habitat restoration for improved production prospects this year.
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