“They’re very susceptible to any kind of ground or air predators, day or night” 😰
On July 3rd, while many people in Shelby Township, Michigan, were preparing for Independence Day, a bird watcher named Mel found herself engaged in a different kind of rescue mission. As she observed wildlife near a developing housing area, she noticed two young ducks stuck in a muddy water basin, unable to move. The ducks were so young that their sex couldn’t even be determined yet, and they still had their “fuzzy butts,” according to Michigan Duck Rescue and Sanctuary (MDRS).
Mel immediately reached out to her friend, a volunteer for MDRS, who contacted founder Matthew Lyson. Sadly, Lyson wasn’t shocked by the situation, having already rescued over a thousand domesticated ducks. However, the sight of these young ducklings in distress was particularly frustrating. He explained that ducks dumped at such a young age face even greater challenges since they require special care and food for the first few months of life.
“Those ducks were barely a month and a half old,” Lyson shared. “For people to dump domestic ducks is one thing, but when you dump them as babies, it’s even more frustrating because, for the first three months, they have to be on a specific type of food, and people just don’t understand.”
Lyson explained that people often buy ducks impulsively from farm stores where baby ducks are sold, not fully understanding the responsibility of raising them. After getting bored or overwhelmed, they abandon them. These particular ducklings, a black Swedish and a white Pekin, were especially vulnerable without food or care and couldn’t survive on their own. Domestic ducks, unlike wild ducks, cannot fly, making them susceptible to predators.
Fortunately, Mel found the ducks just in time. Lyson, along with Kathy, the mother of another volunteer, and Mel, carefully navigated the slippery, muddy terrain to rescue the ducklings. With their teamwork, they scooped the babies into nets and brought them to safety.
The two ducklings were then taken to MDRS, where they were introduced to the other rescued ducks. They quickly became part of the family and are now thriving in the sanctuary.
Lyson emphasized that all the ducks rescued by MDRS are given lifelong care at the sanctuary, and thanks to Mel’s quick thinking and Lyson’s ongoing dedication, these two ducklings are now safe and happy.
“They’re mixed in with their friends, and they’re doing very well,” Lyson said.