Wood Ducklings rescued and taken to rehabber
A Momma Wood duck and most of her babies were in a terrible accident today on the highway near Holland, Michigan. I didnt see it (thankfully) but came up on it seconds afterward and could tell there were survivors. I have moved turtles before, but never in my life done something like this, but I just had to stop.
I pulled over, put on a safety vest (I'm a driver) and started scooping them up from the median grass as I found them walking up and down the grassy area between the lanes. They were pretty hard to see, but you could hear them so I searched for right at an hour according to my phone up and down the median until I didn't hear or see any more. After one last pass, I also found a suprised field mouse living in a lost trailer hitch piece. I let him be.
There was no visible direction that was safe for the ducks to have been going or any other ducks anywhere, so I went online looking for a facility. Rescues cannot mix domestic ducks with wild so it had to be a wildlife only place.
Thankfully a waterfowl rehabber was open only about an hour away and they took them in. Tonight they should be snoozing away with their new family safe and sound. It only cost me a hour of my time, a few bucks in gas, and one (now very stinky) suitcase that served as a temporay duck container for the ride. They were all very much alive and active, and when checked were not obviously injured when we got there.
The reason for the post, outside of the sharing the picture is for anyone else that may have a similar situation someday. Don't try and take care of them yourself, find a rehab. Place them in a container with a towel, and keep it dark and quiet if possible while you transport then. No food or water, and don't place them in water when they are this small, as either can kill them. Also they can transmit things to you like Salmonella in certain cases, so don't handle them any more than you have to and wash your hands and clothes thoroughly after.
Thanks for reading.