Up to 5,000 new homes have been constructed through the years by inmates at McNaughton Correctional Center, for ducks that is. MCC was recently honored by Ducks Unlimited and Wisconsin Public Service for its years of service in creating and donating homes for ducks.

Each year McNaughton Correctional has up to three inmates construct homes for ducks, and on March 7 the center was recognized for successfully completing what was recognized as 5,000 Wood Duck Houses.

The inmates measure and cut and put the homes together from supplies donated by WPS and DU. Upon completion of the houses, WPS comes back to the center and collects the duck houses for distribution throughout communities for a small donation to DU. There have been several designs since this project was started back around 1988.

Some staff involved in this partnership believe the completed number is higher than the 5,000 that was honored and may be closer to 8,000; although the count could be higher as tracking of the homes was not as prevalent in the past.