Mo. Responders Save Ducklings Swept Into Sewer
July 01--ST. CHARLES COUNTY -- Rainy weather usually is lovely for ducks but not so for 10 little ducklings who got swept into a storm sewer.
Luckily for them, their mother alerted residents of an apartment complex in the Montecito subdivision with her persistent quacking. They summoned emergency personnel.
Paramedics with the St. Charles County Ambulance District along with firefighters in the Cottleville Fire Protection District found five of the baby ducks at the bottom of the 12-14 foot deep storm drain. Battalion Chief Brandon Jones lowered himself into the hole and pulled them out.
But the others apparently got swept further into the system and were trickier to rescue. Firefighters placed a fire hose in the drain to used water to gently push the remaining ducklings to the next sewer, which apparently was missing its cover.
Nine of the ducklings were returned immediately to their mother, who had stayed close by during the hour-long rescue. Rescuers say she continued to call out to the ducklings the entire time.
The remaining baby duck was injured during its long fall and was transported to the Wildlife Rescue Center for treatment and rehabilitation.
Susan Weich -- 636-493-9674
@susan_weich on Twitter
sweich@post-dispatch.com
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