Earlier this month, Kelly was spending a peaceful day kayaking on Michigan’s Allen Lake with her husband, Daniel, and their daughter, Lucy, when she noticed something that didn’t seem right.
A small group of ducks was floating nearby, but they didn’t look like the wild ducks that usually belong on the lake. Instead of the natural brown coloring of mallards, these ducks were bright white with orange beaks — a clear sign that they were domestic birds.
Kelly immediately became concerned. Domestic ducks are not built to survive alone in the wild, and it seemed very likely that these four had been abandoned.
Not wanting to leave them in danger, Kelly contacted Matthew Lyson from Michigan Duck Rescue and Sanctuary for help.
Lyson arrived with his rescue partner, Mike, and Kelly’s family quickly joined the effort. Daniel and Kelly even offered their extra kayaks so the rescuers could reach the ducks more easily.
Together, they paddled into the marshy area where the birds were hiding. After carefully surrounding them, the rescuers gently collected all four ducks and placed them safely into a carrier.
Once they were rescued, it became clear just how young they were. The ducks were only about a month and a half old, still showing some of their soft baby fluff.
The rescue team was grateful that Kelly had noticed them and called for help. The young ducks had no proper food source and no way to protect themselves from predators. If they had stayed there much longer, they likely would not have survived.
Now, all four ducks are safe at Michigan Duck Rescue and Sanctuary, where they can stay together and receive the care they need.
According to Lyson, the little group is strongly bonded and already doing very well in their new home.