Rescued ducklings' beautiful response to being released on a pond

These five adorable little ducklings are only a few days old. They were orphaned and found running around in a parking lot of a motel in Peterborough, Ontario. A kindhearted man named Mike had traveled from British Columbia and was staying at the motel because his company, Mercroft Construction, had been contracted for a big job in Ontario. As he finished work and reached the motel, he saw the ducklings without their mother. He watched them for several hours and there was no sign of the mother. She may have been hit by a car or caught by a predator, but either way, Mike knew the ducklings were in trouble and needed help. He scooped up the five little orphans and put them in his bathtub for the night. He gave them some water and some food but he didn’t know what he was going to do with them. Luckily, he had a friend named Kirk who lived in the area. Kirk introduced Mike to a woman named Lucy Davidson, a kind hearted soul who is well known for her love for animals. She runs the Wagging Tails Pet Retreat but her farm is truly an animal sanctuary for creatures who need more love and care than some people can give. Almost all of her animals are rescues.

Lucy has a friend who is a veterinarian. She called Dr. Kristy for help with the ducklings. Birds need to be raised with other wild birds so they learn social and survival skills as well as a healthy fear of humans. Dr. Kristy put the ducklings in her pond while she arranged for them to be taken to the Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre in Napanee, Ontario. The ducklings were thrilled to be set free in the pond for the morning. They splashed and played in the water, diving below, and running across the surface. It was heart warming to see their reaction as they realized that they were being set free on the pond. They had spent the last day in a parking lot, a bathtub, and a box before finally reaching the freedom of the pond. The ducklings also gorged themselves on duckweed and algae.

With full bellies, they were placed back in the box for the last time, so that they could be driven to Sandy Pines. Here they will experience even more freedom and top notch care until they are big enough and strong enough to be released into the wild. Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre will ensure that they have the skills that they need to thrive on their own.

Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre relies on donations from the public. Please visit their site “sandypineswildlife.org” to seek advice and assistance or to make a donation.