The kindness of some officers is nothing to quack up about. A few sheriff’s deputies in Douglas County, Colorado rescued a group of ducklings that had become stuck in a storm drain and reunited them with their family, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies working a day shift carried out the rescue and shared video of it on social media. The ducklings can be heard chirping in the clip, which the deputies suggested turning up the volume to hear. And indeed, you can see the officers trying their best to catch the birds as they sprint from one side of the drain to the other. They’re zipping back and forth out of reach, but ultimately end up caught and brought to safety.
The Sheriff’s Office nicknamed three of the ducklings Huey, Dewey, and Louie and said the whole family was back together afterward. The office has not released further details, as to whether the ducks have been given a new home, or if they were released. But they’re certainly doing better than they were, trapped in a storm drain.
The tiny ducks aren’t the only kind of wildlife that can get caught in such an area, though. A larger indentation like this one can attract small puppies or kittens or even other types of wildlife. If you happen to see an animal trapped in one, it’s a good idea to find help if at all possible — but ducklings are especially susceptible.
Why Ducklings End Up Stuck in Storm Drains
Storm drains are a routine hazard for young ducks in late spring and early summer. Ducklings walk in a line behind their mother, and when the family crosses a street grate, the slots are wide enough for the small birds to slip through while the adult steps over safely. Once they drop into the catch basin below, the smooth vertical walls leave them unable to climb back out.
First responders across Colorado field these calls regularly. In recent weeks, fire crews in Fort Collins and police in Wheat Ridge pulled trapped ducklings from storm drains, and similar rescues have played out around the country this season, according to local reports like the Denver Gazette. The mother duck usually stays close, pacing and calling near the grate, which is often what alerts a passerby that something is wrong.
What Should You Do If Ducklings Fall Into a Storm Drain?
Wildlife and rescue officials suggest calling for help, since storm drains can be deep and the grates heavy. A local non-emergency line, animal control, or the fire department can bring the tools to lift the grate safely. It also helps to keep an eye on the mother, so she does not wander off before her ducklings are out.
The aim in these situations is reunion. Healthy ducklings do best returned to their waiting mother, and rescuers typically set the birds down near her and let the family move off together, which is how the Douglas County rescue ended. Some communities have experimented with escape ramps or drain guards in spots where ducks nest, to keep the birds from falling in at all.