The Labrador duck's causes for extinction have never been clear. Its numbers were always low, and it was never seen as a common species. It was the first North American species to go extinct as a result of the Columbian Exchange. No one ever found an active Labrador duck nest, though a few eggs were discovered. People would intentionally pass on hunting this sea duck because of its bad taste. There were reports of these ducks spoiling quickly and going to waste in the markets. Because of its elusiveness, it is hard to say exactly what led to this duck's extinction. Some sources list the Labrador duck's extinction date as 1875, when one of the last males was killed off the shore of Long Island, New York. But most sources cite December 12, 1878 when a young boy shot a mysterious duck while hunting after a major snowstorm. It is believed that the duck was blown off course, far from the Atlantic Ocean and sought shelter in the Chemung River. When a scientist went to investigate the reports of the mysterious duck it had already been eaten, but the feathers matched those of the Labrador duck. Could the Labrador duck live in the North Atlantic today? Although Jurassic Park is fiction, scientists are working on several de-extinction projects. In fact, in 2003 scientists did bring back the extinct Pyrenean ibex, a type of wild goat, for 7 minutes before it died, showing de-extinction is possible. The Labrador duck might be a good candidate. Scientists would potentially use DNA from the 55 skins and 3 eggs in museum specimens to use to try to bring them back to life. Great strides have been made to preserve wildlife and restore habitats since the Labrador duck's extinction in 1878. If the Labrador duck was brought to life, could it ever be reintroduced to its native homeland from Labrador in Canada to the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland?