Patients of the Week: Mallard Ducklings

MALL-CHP-rescue

It’s a scene all too common: A mother Duck is struck by a vehicle on a busy highway while moving her brood of ducklings.

Last week this drama played out again in Santa Rosa, CA. Luckily for the surviving mallard ducklings, a quick thinking California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer sprung into action. The CHP contacted our friends at The Bird Rescue Center of Sonoma County and they coordinated a tricky rescue in the fast lane of Highway 101.

Unfortunately, they were unable to save the mother who, in her last protective act, kept all her ducklings together in a very stressful and scary situation. The ducklings transferred to our San Francisco Bay wildlife center where they are enjoying their own pool and enclosure.

From the size of these ducklings, it is clear that these ducklings had a courageous mother because they are rather mature to still be in such a large clutch. She kept them together longer than a typical Mallard hen would.

Please consider making a gift to celebrate courageous mothers everywhere!

Your donation helps Bird Rescue to continue its important work in mitigating the human impact on injured, oiled, sick, and orphaned water birds. Every bird matters.

Read more: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/5581218-181/chp-rescues-ducklings-on-highway