Spring is the season when ducks lay their eggs, and by late spring, cute ducklings are ready to explore the world. However, they’re entirely dependent on their mother’s care during their early days.
These little ones face numerous dangers right from the start. Male ducks, known as drakes, can be aggressive, so mothers often seek safe places away from male-dominated lakes or ponds.
Apart from male ducks, these ducklings are also vulnerable to threats from predators like snakes, raccoons, foxes, eagles, and even sewer grates.
A video uploaded to YouTube showcases a heartwarming incident where a kind-hearted passerby aids a distressed mother duck.
The man recalls, “I was going for a walk the other day, and I noticed a duck was quacking at me.”
Somehow, he felt the duck was trying to communicate something urgent.
Drawn by the duck’s persistent quacking, the man approached a nearby sewer grate. As he got closer, he heard faint chirping sounds.
Peering into the grate, he discovered several tiny ducklings trapped below.
Their anxious mother stood close by, quacking incessantly, showing her distress and unwillingness to abandon her babies.
Feeling the urgency of the situation, the man said, “I called for help.”
Without wasting any time, the man reached out to the Phoenix Fire Department. The firefighters promptly arrived at the scene, ready to assist in the rescue mission.
The Rutgers Wildlife Conservation and Management Program states that ducklings falling into sewer grates is an unfortunate but common occurrence.
The website explains, “It is quite common for ducklings to fall through the opening of sewer grates.”
The mother duck can easily walk over these grates without any issues. However, she might not realize the potential danger it poses to her tiny offspring.
The baby ducklings instinctively follow their mother, and in this case, they probably trailed behind her over the grate, not anticipating the peril of falling through.
The firefighters faced a challenging task of prying open the heavy grate.
After some effort, they succeeded. Ensuring utmost caution, they removed the grate lid and placed a ladder into the hole. They also used flashlights to inspect the area for any lurking snakes.
Throughout this process, the mother duck anxiously circled overhead, keeping a watchful eye on the rescue operation.
One brave firefighter descended into the sewer, armed with a cooler filled with leaves to safely hold the ducklings. One by one, each duckling was carefully retrieved from the grimy sewer.
The rescue mission resulted in the safe extraction of nine little ducklings.
By the end of the rescue, the mother duck had found refuge in a neighboring yard, observing the firefighters from a distance.
Once her babies were safely out, the firefighters released them, and the ducklings joyfully raced to reunite with their mother.
This touching rescue video garnered over 3.6 million views, with viewers pouring in their admiration and gratitude.
Comments flooded in, praising the man and the firefighters: “Spending considerable time and energy to save the young of another species without expectation of a reward – That’s some legit human-ing.”
Another added, “God bless that guy for helping.”
Many expressed their gratitude to the Phoenix Fire Department, with one comment reading, “Thank you, Phoenix Fire Department! That was a tremendous effort and you reunited 9 little ducklings with their worried mother. She was smart to get your attention. She knew she needed help.”
However, it’s essential to remember that ducklings often face such dangers. The Culver City Police Department advises the public to be cautious as sewers can contain lethal methane fumes.
If anyone encounters ducklings in distress, it’s best to contact local authorities for assistance.
Check out the full rescue in the video below!
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