by Elsa Watson and Ann Simandl of West Sound Wildlife Shelter May 8, 2012

Sometimes it takes a village to rescue wild animals in danger. On April 30, a call came into West Sound Wildlife Shelter from Simone at the Chase Bank on Little Valley Road. A group of ducklings were trapped—they had fallen through the open spaces of a sewer grate and into a drain, and their mother was helplessly watching her babies in distress.

Mike Pratt, Director of Wildlife Services at West Sound, suggested we contact the Poulsbo Fire Department and the Public Works Department, since lifting the top of the grate would require specialized equipment. Meanwhile, Mike gathered up a few of our long-handled nets and proceeded to the location where he met the Poulsbo Fire Department team and Dan from Public Works.

Mother with ducklings.

The rescue was dramatic. Firefighters had to crawl into the ditch to block the ducklings from going back into the drain. The team rigged up a coffee can on a string to lift the ducklings out one by one. Not long afterward, all twelve babies were reunited with their mother in the retention pond across the street.

Many thanks are due to all involved, including Simone at Chase Bank, Battalion Chief Peterson and his crew, the Poulsbo Public Works Department, and the Poulsbo Police Department, which provided traffic control. It’s wonderful to see the community coming together to keep a family safe and sound!

Photos courtesy of Rona Proudfoot and Jaroslaw Pocztarski.