Dead Ducks Fuel More Reflection Pool Controversy, Investigation Underway

Trump’s reflection pool saga makes him a laughingstock again.

Multiple dead ducks

The Washington Post reports A dead duck was seen in the Reflecting Pool. Then two more were found nearby.

When the Lincoln Memorial’s Reflecting Pool was replenished this month after a $14 million-plus renovation, ducks quickly took to the water. Tourists delighted at the sight of ducklings paddling through the pool.

But then, over the weekend: a disturbing discovery.

A duck carcass was photographed floating in the algae-filled water, days after the “American Flag Blue” paint began peeling off the bottom of the pool.

Then, two other dead ducks were found in a pond at Constitution Gardens on the National Mall — roughly 250 feet from the Reflecting Pool. City Wildlife, one of the lead animal rescue and rehabilitationgroups in the area, saida staffer collected their bodies Sunday and brought them to the organization’s facility.

Where the body of the dead duck taken from the Reflecting Pool ended up is unknown. Officials at the Interior Department did not answer questions about the duck that was seen in photographs shared widely on social media.

Linton said the veterinary staff at City Wildlife plans to conduct necropsies on the two dead ducks they have received and hope to have results as soon as this week.

Investigation Urged

The Center for Biological reports Investigation Urged After Ducks Found Dead at Trump’s Reflecting Pool

The Center for Biological Diversity today called on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct an immediate investigation and enforce the Migratory Bird Treaty Act after multiple dead ducks were found near the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool following Trump’s $14 million renovation.

“Wasting taxpayer money turning the reflecting pool into a giant duck death trap just in time for America’s 250th birthday party is as Trump as it gets. Cruel, stupid and selfish,” said Tara Zuardo, a senior campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Instead of letting this administration’s bizarre boondoggle keep killing innocent ducks, I hope the Fish and Wildlife Service steps in to do its job and protect America’s wildlife.”

While the exact cause of the deaths is unknown, dumping hydrogen peroxide into the pool or peeling paint driven by the administration’s efforts to make the pool appear “American flag blue” are distinct possibilities. It’s also possible that the algal blooms, which can be toxic, following the Trump administration’s restoration efforts are to blame.

Open Letter to the Dead Duck

Please consider An Open Letter to the Dead Duck Seen Floating in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool by Jack Loftus

“A viral photograph of a dead duck floating in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has intensified scrutiny of the landmark’s recent $14 million renovation, fueling a mounting debate over water quality, chemical treatments, and alleged vandalism at the historic site.” — Newsweek

Dear Duck,

I am sorry this happened to you in a place designed to make people think about sacrifice in America.

You did not arrive to comment on algae blooms, haphazard chemical treatments, peeling paint, or whether a $14 million renovation should remain visibly renovated for longer than a few days. You were not trying to enter the national conversation. You were not making a point or, I assume, posting one to Bluesky.

You were simply there because ducks go where the water is. This is one of the nicer things about ducks. You have a practical theology. If there is water, enter it. If there is bread, inhale it. If there are small ducklings nearby, arrange yourself into a soft, vigilant flotilla and continue.

So, when I saw you floating there, I felt something rise up. Not just sadness. Recognition, maybe. Shame, certainly. The sense that humans have been making ducks pay attention to us for a very long time, and ducks, to their credit, have shown almost no interest in returning the favor.

We do not know what killed you. It would be folly to pretend otherwise. There has already been enough certainty poured into that pool. What I know is smaller: The water is green. The paint is failing. And somewhere, in all of it, you were floating very still in a place built for reflection.

Still, I hope that before the end, you had known better water. A pond, somewhere quiet, with swaying reeds. A patch of shade. A morning in which no one photographed you for clout or generated AI duck-slop for their LinkedIn hot take. I hope you had once lowered your head beneath the cool surface and come up with something ordinary and sufficient. I hope you had the simple duck pleasure of moving through water that was only water.

That is not much. But it may be more than we are currently prepared to offer.

Quack quack,
Jack

That’s condensed. Click above for the full article.

Vandals Found

The Accusation

Changing Story of the Knife

Video of Captured Vandals

The Underwater Vandals View

Peeling Paint

A War on Algae

Algae Protests

Losing Another War

Total Failure