Mallard mothers often lose as many as 90% of their ducklings to predators before they are able to fly. Their main predators here are mink, river otters, owls, and bald eagles.
At this early stage many have already been killed by predators. The mothers have no defence against these predators. She can only try to distract them while the duckling try to hid amongst the cattails. The loud shrieking from a mallard in the middle of the night is a sure indication her young are being killed or attacked.
