It is natural for animals to live freely in the wild, where they belong. Yet, as people increasingly settle into urban areas, wildlife often has to adapt to city life, and not always successfully.
One day, hospital staff in Oceanside, New York, witnessed firsthand how difficult this could be.
Looking out from a window that faced the hospital’s parking lot, they noticed a mother duck walking proudly with her ten ducklings trailing behind her. It was a sweet scene—until, suddenly, nine of the little ones vanished.
They had slipped through a grate and fallen into a sewer.
Without hesitation, the nurses jumped into action.
Rescue From The Deepness
By the time the hospital employees reached the spot, the mother duck and one of her babies had already moved on.
What they found instead left them shaken, nine tiny ducklings trapped deep underground, their faint cries echoing up from the darkness.
The pit was far deeper than anyone expected, but there was no time to waste. The nurses quickly came up with a plan to save the helpless babies.
Using a Jeep as an anchor, they secured a safety line and climbed down. One by one, they managed to bring several ducklings back up to safety.
For a moment, it seemed like the rescue was complete, but when they counted, only six were safe. Three more were still trapped below, still crying desperately for help.
Realizing they needed more support, the nurses called the local fire department. Within minutes, firefighters arrived, and together they worked until the very last duckling was lifted out of danger.
At last, all nine ducklings were safe again, reunited and chirping in relief.
Finally, In Safe Hands
Wildlife rehabilitator Karenlynn Stracher was overjoyed when she heard about the rescue. She stepped in to care for the babies, bringing them home to begin recovering from their frightening ordeal.
After a short stay with her, the ducklings were transferred to Animal Nation, a wildlife rehabilitation facility in Westchester County, New York.
There, they were given everything they needed to thrive and grow strong, far from the dangers of city streets.
Stracher couldn’t help but praise the hospital staff for their bravery and quick thinking.
“[I] was impressed by their bravery,” Stracher told The Dodo. “It really is a testament to their caring nature [that they] watch out for not just humans, but wildlife as well. They are amazing people for doing what they did!”
Thanks to those compassionate individuals, nine tiny lives were saved, turning what could have been a tragedy into a story of kindness, teamwork, and hope.