“This poor girl wanted to be saved …”
Rescued Domestic Duck Found Struggling in Michigan River Gets a Second Chance
While walking through Hines Park in Michigan, sisters Jessica Lee and Kimberly Ann spotted what first looked like a touching scene — two ducks swimming together in the river, side-by-side like close companions. But a closer look revealed something alarming.
“One of the ducks looked unusually large compared to the mallard beside her,” Michigan Duck Rescue and Sanctuary (MDRS) wrote in a Facebook post. Concerned, the sisters contacted MDRS to ask if the bigger duck belonged in the wild.
As soon as MDRS experts saw the photo, they were alarmed. One duck was indeed a wild mallard — but the other, a much larger brown duck, was identified as a khaki Campbell domestic duck, a breed that should never be left in the wild.
“She was no doubt abandoned,” MDRS said. Domestic ducks lack the instincts and physical adaptations to survive in nature, making this an urgent situation.
Jessica and Kimberly immediately tried to coax the duck, later named Frida, out of the water. But Frida, clearly frightened, resisted their efforts.
“The scariest part is this poor girl wanted to be saved but was uneasy,” Jessica shared on Facebook.
Things quickly escalated when Frida suddenly disappeared underwater and didn’t resurface for nearly a minute. Panicked, the sisters jumped into the river to find her — and discovered her neck had become entangled around a submerged branch.
Thankfully, they were able to free her just in time.
“She immediately realized the end goal,” Jessica said, describing how Frida allowed herself to be guided to safety. Once ashore, Frida melted into Jessica’s arms, resting her head on her rescuer’s shoulder in a moment of pure gratitude.
The sisters rushed her to the Michigan Duck Rescue and Sanctuary, where founders Matthew and Theresa Lyson gave her a thorough checkup and, finally, a hearty meal.
“She ate for what seemed like 10 minutes straight — poor angel,” MDRS wrote.
A month later, Frida is thriving at the sanctuary, enjoying safety, companionship, and proper care with her new flock.
While the sisters hadn’t expected to stage a dramatic river rescue that day, they have no regrets.
“I would let her poop on me 20 more times,” Jessica joked, “because in the end, we got her to safety.”