At 5:30 this morning, while driving along a busy four-lane road, I spotted a Mallard duck. He sat, unmoving, in the middle of the oncoming lane. After stopping and putting on my four-way flashers, I hopped out and wrapped my jacket around him. There was blood on the pavement and a small amount near his nostrils, but he was alive. He freaked out, just a bit, on the floor of the passenger side of my car as I sped to the vet's, where I knew the emergency vet number was posted on the door.I called, and they advised me to bring him in and they could euthanize him. Uh ... no. Not knowing the extent of his injuries, I couldn't do that. So I drove home and placed him in my back garden. I gave him some water, cooked rice and sunflower seeds. I have no idea if any of that interests him, but I hope it will tide him over until I figure out what to do.
I might call the OSPCA because they do take in wildlife, but considering what's been happening there lately, they might be a little too busy (more on that in a later post, but you can read a bit about it in the May 2010 posts on my other blog.) When I went out to take this photo (click to enlarge), I frightened him, and he flew into the cedar hedge, then bounced off. At least he's able to fly now, so perhaps he just needs some time to rest.
Update: The investigators have taken the duck away. I do hope they find he's just a little dazed, and he'll soon be back with his family. Hmm ... I must find out how and where they release ducks after they've been rehabilitated. I suppose, with all his natural duck homing instincts, he shouldn't have a problem. Should he?
8 comments:
I'm staying tuned and hoping for a happy ending.
So am I, NT. He's been resting all day, but not eating or moving much. I've called the OSPCA -- they'll take him to the wildlife rehab for assessment. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Thanks for letting us know, Lynn. pray he/she is just winded and not seriously injured and rejoins his/her family soon!!!
And thanks for the complimentary coffee, this morn, Karla. I should rescue ducks every day.
Why as a society are we so quick to utter the word "euthanize"?? Jeez!
Good for you, Lyn. Hopefully, the little guy is feeling much better now and back to his normal self -- alive and well.
Georgie, if the emergency vet's casual use of "euthanize" bothers you, then my next post will make you positively ill -- it's not a pretty picture. I too hope the Mallard is alive and well.
Ducks are hardy creatures. One had an arrow shot through his neck at a local park and recovered after a few days of vet attention.
This is good to hear, Jan. Not the "arrow shot through the neck" part, but that they're "hardy creatures".
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