Rescued ducklings overjoyed to play and feast in pond

These five newborn ducklings play and splash with complete joy as they are released onto a pond during one of the most adorable rescues ever. Just hours before this, they were orphaned and alone, at risk of being eaten by predators or killed in traffic. Now they have been given a second chance and they are thrilled. Their reaction to hitting the water and finding food is heart warming.Show more

It started with a man named Mike, who traveled all the way from British Columbia for work. He owns Mercroft Construction, the company that was hired for a job in Peterborough, Ontario. When he reached his hotel, he saw five of the tiniest, fluffy ducklings wandering scared in the parking lot. He knew that not to interfere so he watched from a distance for a few hours, hoping the mother would find them. It soon became clear that their mother was not coming and the ducks wouldn't make it through the night without his help.

Mike managed to scoop them all up and he put them in his room for the night while he made some calls for help. His friend Kirk, from Millbrook knew of a kind-hearted woman named Lucy who runs Wagging Tails Pet Retreat in Millbrook. No stranger to animal rescue, Lucy happens to be connected with a veterinarian who will help any creature in need. She reached out and set a plan in motion. Mike brought her the ducks and she gave them food and water until they could be delivered to Dr. Kristy.

The ducks were released on Kristy's pond while she contacted Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre to see if they could help.

While this was being set up, the ducklings quickly discovered how exciting it was to be on the water. They splashed, dove, and darted across the surface overjoyed at this freedom. They feasted on duckweed and algae, squeaking with delight as they did so.

To see these ducks having such fun while they fill their tiny bellies warms the heart. After a few hours, they were scooped up and taken on a long journey to the rehab centre. Here, they will be cared for by the wonderful staff who will raise them along with other wild ducks. They will socialize with wild birds and will be handled as little as possible so that they can more easily be released successfully back into the wild when they are grown.

Nobody knows what happened to the ducklings' mother, but these kind people have all teamed up to give them a second chance at life. At Sandy Pines, they will have the best possible chance.
Rehab centres like these are only possible through hard working volunteers and staff who rely on donations. They can be reached at sandypineswildlife.org for information or for assistance.