MONCKS CORNER, S.C. — A routine day for first responders in Berkeley County took an unusual turn this week when firefighters found themselves carrying out a rescue mission involving some of the area’s smallest residents.
Crews with Central Berkeley Fire & EMS responded June 3 to reports of a family of ducklings trapped inside a storm drain following recent rainy weather. After what firefighters described as a combination of teamwork, patience and “expert-level duck wrangling,” the young birds were safely removed from the drain and transported to a local wildlife rehabilitator.
At Central Berkeley Fire & EMS, officials joked that “no job is too small or beneath us — even when the job is literally small and literally beneath us.”
Photos shared by the department showed the fluffy ducklings gathered together after their rescue.
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Search Continues for Mother Duck
Following the rescue, the ducklings were placed in the care of Donna Dorner of Carolina Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, who has been working to locate the birds’ mother.
In an update shared later on June 3, Dorner said she had not yet been able to reunite the ducklings with their mother but planned to continue searching.
“Unfortunately, I have not been able to find mom yet,” Dorner wrote. “I’m going to try one more time tomorrow.”
Despite the separation, Dorner reported that the young birds were thriving in rehabilitation.
“Happy to report that all the babies are doing well and they’re enjoying their late-night meal of mealworms in a warm bath,” she said.
Why Ducklings Need Their Mothers
Wildlife experts say ducklings are highly dependent on their mothers during the first several weeks of life. Shortly after hatching, ducklings leave their nests and follow their mother to nearby water sources, where she teaches them where to find food and helps protect them from predators.
Although ducklings are capable swimmers almost immediately after hatching, they cannot fly for several weeks and rely on their mother for guidance and protection while they develop.
Storm drains can pose a particular hazard for ducklings because their small size allows them to slip through grates and openings that adult ducks cannot access. Wildlife rescuers across the country routinely respond to calls involving ducklings trapped in drainage systems, retention ponds and other man-made structures.
A Different Kind of Emergency Call
While Central Berkeley Fire & EMS regularly responds to fires, medical emergencies and vehicle crashes, animal rescues are also part of the job when situations arise.
For the firefighters involved, the rescue offered a brief but memorable change of pace from more traditional emergency calls.
And while the ducklings may not have realized it, their successful rescue required the same qualities first responders bring to larger emergencies every day: patience, teamwork and a willingness to help whenever they’re needed.
As of Wednesday, the ducklings remained safe in rehabilitation while efforts continued to locate their mother and determine the best path forward for the tiny birds.
