These Running Ducks Hunt Snails For A Chemical-Free Vineyard

There are roughly 300 companies that produce wine for the public, but most of them turn to chemicals to mow down their main pest - snails. Grape vines are their kibble of choice, which contaminates the harvest. But one particular company turned to a very obvious and chemical-free way of getting rid of those pests - the Indian running duck. It is a win-win scenario for both the producer and the birds - they feed on the snails and fertilize the soil around the vineyard, keeping the grapes free of the slimy intruders, so that delicious wine can be made afterwards.Show more

Vergenoegd Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa, has hundreds of Indian runner ducks in their employ, helping them remove the grape-eating buggers away from the sweet fruit. Basically, the birds are maintenance free; they get to live free-range, running around countless acres of land, munch of the snails and other pests that might attack the vines and they fertilize the land. The ducks have been part of the regular workforce on the vineyard since 1984 and the company even has a breeding program for the feathery helpers on site.

Visitors at the vineyard get to see what they call a duck parade, when the ducks go to and from the vineyard. They have become a sort of tourist attraction, as they have a specific allotted time every day: 9:45 in the morning and 3:30 in the afternoon. This is what that parade looks like.

They are so hilarious to watch as they scurry out for the spectators in attendance. They're just so tall and awkward yet adorable!