Mabel the duck is Port Orchard’s newest sensation

Published 1:30 am Monday, December 15, 2025

What began as a curious white object in the grass of a Port Orchard yard has turned into an unlikely local celebrity: Mabel the duck.

Delena, who lives in Port Orchard with her husband, Jeff, said she was out photographing the fall colors on a cold morning Sept. 26, 2022, when she noticed something unusual. A smooth, white object caught her eye in the dew-covered grass.

“I thought it was just a really cool-looking rock,” she said. “I was just about to tap the pavement with it to convince myself it was a rock, and something stopped me.”

She brought the object inside and showed it to her husband, but still wasn’t sure what she had found. After posting a photo on Facebook, the mystery deepened as neighbors weighed in with guesses ranging from an eagle egg to a snake egg.

Inside a dark closet, Delena held a flashlight to the shell — and realized it was real.

“That’s how I knew, oh no, this is a real egg. Now what do I do?” she said.

A trip to a local farm supply store put her on the path to incubating it. An employee suggested she try hatching it, and she bought an incubator that same day. The challenge, she said, was not knowing what type of egg it was. She researched temperatures, humidity levels and hatch times for several species and tried to find a middle ground.

On about day 30, slightly longer than typical for a duck, the egg hatched. Delena and Jeff had set up a camera, and a time-lapse video on YouTube shows the moment Mabel pushed her way out of the shell overnight.

“It was exciting, just watching this miracle of life develop,” Delena said. “Toward the last few days, she would start peeping in the egg. I would talk to her, and she would peep back.”

They still did not know what breed she was or whether she was domestic or wild, which would determine whether they could keep her. Mabel lived inside their house for about five months as she grew, following them around, settling on their slippers and sleeping beside the computer while they worked. Delena said Mabel would cry loudly if left alone, so they set up a small kennel in the office.

Because she was raised indoors, Mabel became bonded to the couple.

“She was raised in a house with a dog and two cats,” Delena said. “She’s friendly with everybody.”

Mabel transitioned to outdoor living the following May, once her adult feathers grew in. The couple found her two duck companions so she wouldn’t be alone. Still, Delena said Mabel often does her own thing.

“When she’s walking around the yard, she struts with confidence,” she said. “She’s been our escape artist.”

Mabel’s personality, she said, is bold and unusually friendly. She has chased rabbits and approached deer in the yard. She once followed a UPS driver back toward his truck after he gave her attention.

Her friendliness also comes with risks. A dog attacked her once, Delena said, though Mabel was not seriously injured. The couple now keeps the ducks in a secure outdoor area unless they can supervise them.

Mabel’s fans — some of whom have followed her story since the egg was first posted online — have stayed engaged through her Facebook page. Delena, who describes herself as “Mama Duck,” shares videos, photos and updates about Mabel’s life and care.

“Some strong followers have been with her from the beginning,” she said. “I love being able to share her.”

Delena said she never expected to become active on social media, but Mabel’s story changed that. She now posts videos and is beginning to share how-tos for people considering raising ducks.

As an illustrator and graphic designer, Delena is also working on shirts, stickers and other products featuring Mabel.

Mabel continues to live outside with her two companions, regularly visiting the porch and enjoying her favorite treats — peas, blueberries and ice water.

“She just loves meeting people,” Delena said. “This has been a blessing for us.”