Our History
An honoured institution established by waterfowlers
Picture Canada’s prairies in the dirty, dusty days of the Great Depression. Wetlands were steadily disappearing because of drought, agriculture and urban expansion, and as a result, waterfowl populations were plummeting.
In 1937, a group of conservation-minded sportsmen set out to stop the destruction and neglect. They initiated habitat conservation projects in Canada—where 70 per cent of North America’s waterfowl originate—by raising funds in the United States. They called their effort Ducks Unlimited.
DUC was formed in 1938 to continue these important efforts in Canada. More than 70 years later, our wetland conservation work carries on and DUC has grown and increased Canadian support and funding for this important work. In fact, DUC has become Canada’s most trusted and respected conservation organizations.
But despite this success, Canada’s wetlands and corresponding waterfowl and wildlife habitat continue to disappear. Up to 70 per cent of Canada’s wetlands have been lost in settled areas. DUC needs your support to continue delivering practical solutions to wetland loss and preserving waterfowl and wildlife habitat for generations to come.
Learn more about how you can help conserve Canada’s precious waterfowl habitat today!
