Domestic ducks require more care than expected. Unfortunately, this is the reason many of them find themselves abandoned in all kinds of places.
But here’s a harsh reality: unlike wild ducks, these feathered babies can’t fly away from danger or forage enough to survive on their own.
So, when Matthew Lyson, owner of Michigan Duck Rescue and Sanctuary, heard about two ducks who spent weeks wandering a golf course, he and his friend Mike immediately rushed into action.
Timely Rescue
Seeing the two abandoned ducks at the Crosswinds Golf Course in Perrysburg, Ohio, became a common sight for golfers. According to the staff, they were roaming the golf course for almost a month, waddling up to strangers in search of food.
“We were told that these two precious angels were hanging out at the 10th and 11th holes, trying to make friends with each of the passerby golfers, for at least two weeks to a month,” Matthew shared on Facebook.
What initially seemed sweet was truly heartbreaking in reality. The ducks were without proper care and literally starving. On top of that, they were quite vulnerable to coyotes.
“They were so starved, it is no surprise they were trying to make new friends. I was also so surprised that they made it that long, as coyotes were know to traverse the course frequently,” he added in the post.
When Matt and his friend, Mike, finally arrived at the scene, they didn’t hesitate.
They slowly approached the ducks with a bag of nuts, trying not to scare them back into the pond. They hoped to be able to rescue these feathered animals on the green, and that’s exactly what happened.
Only a few minutes later, the rescuers secured both ducks.
Safe And Sound
As later explained in the post, Matt and Mike secured a male and a female duck, a Pekin and an Indian Runner, and brought them back to the sanctuary in Michigan.
“As I sprinkled a few nuts on the green (all I had for bait, but it worked), they got close enough for us to make our simultaneous move. On the call, I gently picked up the little Indian runner, as Mike pounced on the timid Pekin,” Matt concluded.
At the sanctuary, the pair began adjusting to their new environment. Instead of grass patches, they now have a nice, suitable space to swim in and run freely.
But most importantly, they have a safe, nurturing environment where they can finally build towards full recovery.
Final Word
While their rescue turned out to be successful, unfortunately, there are many dumped ducks that never get the same second chance. So, when people abandon them in public places, they are essentially leaving them to starve, fall prey to predators, or slowly decline.
Fortunately, the life journey of these two feather quacking cuties didn’t end that way. Now, they finally have the chance to start over.