10 ducklings rescued from sewer drain in Ypsilanti
Ten baby wood ducklings were rescued and reunited with their mother after falling into a sewer drain in Ypsilanti around 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Humane Society of Huron Valley employee Jessica Hitt,left, and Ypsilanti firefighter Rodney Schroeder, right, along with restaurant staff from Luca's Coney Island, rescued 10 baby ducklings Wednesday.
Courtesy Ypsilanti Fire Department
The ducklings fell into a sewer drain behind the Luca's Coney Island at 309 E. Michigan Ave. and the $3.50 Soft Cloth Car Wash at 317 E. Michigan Ave..
Eight of the ducklings were rescued by Luca's staff and two were rescued by Ypsilanti Firefighter Rodney Schroeder, who said the owner of the restaurant called the fire department and the Humane Society of Huron Valley.
"We got on the scene and they had eight of them already boxed," Schroeder said. "The mother was flying around the area and there were two that were still loose. We were there for about 30 minutes trying to get those two out and we finally got them out and took them over by the railroad tracks and some rocks."
Schroeder said Jessica Hitt from the HSHV arrived on the scene and advised him to just release the ducklings, saying the mother would fly down to them.
Schroeder said rescues like this happen at least once a year for the department. Schroeder said his wife once did animal rehabbing, so he's well-versed in how to rescue and care for animals potentially in danger.
"I enjoy doing it," Schroeder said. "It's fun. No one wants to see them ( animals) get hurt. It's a good feeling to be able to help animals and people out."
Katrease Stafford covers Ypsilanti for AnnArbor.com.Reach her at katreasestafford@annarbor.com or 734-623-2548 and follow her on twitter.
Comments
jns131
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 11:27 p.m.
Over by Briarwood on Eisenhower, I stopped traffic to help mother duck and her 8 ducklngs cross that major stretch of State. Those things were no bigger then my hand. Sadly some idiot ran over a turtle over by north main street. Otherwise, another great animal save moment.
mady
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 1:44 p.m.
Good for you!
Steve McKeen
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 5:01 p.m.
Is true that city council is forbidding the ducklings from giving a presentation to the next meeting on how unsafe the drains are and how combining drainage systems would cost more money?
arborani
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 5:19 p.m.
A request for presentation was submitted, but it fell between the quacks.
UpperDecker
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 4:53 p.m.
Nobody tell DIllon Pierce about this.....
Ed Anderson
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 4:14 p.m.
I am curious why the firefighter is named but not the employee of the Humane Society of Huron Valley? Seems weird. Are nonprofit workers, who sacrifice a good livelihood for the betterment of our community, less important than a well-paid, well-pensioned Ann Arbor firefighter who technically should have other work to do.
Katrease Stafford
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 4:22 p.m.
Ed, There was no intended slight. The employee's name was not immediately available when I wrote the story. I just received her name and the story will be updated in a few moments.
dsponini
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 1:24 p.m.
A man's character can be judged by the way he treats animals
Sue
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 5:52 p.m.
"You can judge a man's true character by the way he treats his fellow animals." ? Paul McCartney
jns131
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 11:28 p.m.
O I could not agree more with this one.
tdw
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 11:02 a.m.
That's really cool, but I have never seen a WOOD duck around here much less a momma with babies walking around.I wonder where they came from.The river maybe ?
Charley Sullivan
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 2:37 a.m.
So, I guess I'm in the minority, but seriously, this is news?? I called my neighbors about their missing cat today, can I get a feature story written?
Charley Sullivan
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 1:57 p.m.
tdw, those would actually qualify as news, perhaps.
tdw
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 10:59 a.m.
I suppose you would rather read about a murder, shooting , sexual assault , assault , home invasion............
Krupper1
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 3:39 a.m.
and, what would Darwin say?
music to my ear
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 12:39 a.m.
AWLLLLLLLLLLL
arborani
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 5:21 p.m.
Or Mike Hammer.
Usual Suspect
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 3:32 p.m.
I suspect a leatherworker or woodworker. Probably married to Marlin Spike.
tdw
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 10:56 a.m.
music..." AWLLLLLLLLL" ? you must be a girl :)
brian
Thu, May 30, 2013 : 11:38 p.m.
Finally a good story to read. Good job all.
An Arborigine
Thu, May 30, 2013 : 9:16 p.m.
Spokesduck "Woody" noted that this act of kindness was far more appreciated than it had originally been quacked up to be.
greg s
Thu, May 30, 2013 : 8:51 p.m.
Thank God for some kindness to these little babies ! Great Work !
Usual Suspect
Thu, May 30, 2013 : 8:42 p.m.
"Ten baby wood ducklings" So they were decoys, then.
Sue
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 5:47 p.m.
thanks for a great laugh, that was classic! So was tommyY's response, lol
tommyY
Thu, May 30, 2013 : 10:43 p.m.
Which has to really tee off BobbyJohn!
ScioReader
Thu, May 30, 2013 : 8:35 p.m.
I love living in a community where a story like this makes a headline. Gotta love us.
a2citizen
Thu, May 30, 2013 : 8:27 p.m.
This coney island gets an incredible amount of publicity.
brian
Thu, May 30, 2013 : 11:40 p.m.
They deserve it just for their biscuits and gravy and yes I have their corned beef hash and it is perfect, never hot enough to burn my mouth. I Love their coney dogs also.
Bubba43
Thu, May 30, 2013 : 8:23 p.m.
wonderful news.
BobbyJohn
Thu, May 30, 2013 : 7:49 p.m.
I hope that this was done on the firefighters own time, and not on the taxpayer's clock and expense. This is Humane Society work, not emergency services.
brian
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 2:30 a.m.
Wow dude, I have been voted down but never that many times. Grow a heart.
jns131
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 12:03 a.m.
Boy did you get the votes on this one. And the deleted comments to boot.
tdw
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 10:53 a.m.
As soon as I saw the article I knew there would be at least one comment like this.Look they get payed regardless whether they are watching the boob tube at the station or rescuing ducklings
rammstein1
Thu, May 30, 2013 : 11:53 p.m.
Oh my gosh, how do you feel that saving fellow creatures is wasting "your" money. How cold can you be to even make such a comment. I feel most people are a waste of taxpayer dollars. Hurray for the rescuers.
JW
Thu, May 30, 2013 : 7:58 p.m.
If there was no fire at the same time that they should have been at, then what kind of extra expense do you think this incurred, BobbyJohn?
djacks24
Thu, May 30, 2013 : 7:47 p.m.
Sad to think for every duckling that saved how many are lost? Would be nice if we could incorporate some more environmentally friendly storm drains. After the initial cost of integration, I imagine it wouldn't be much more expensive and would actually cost less in the long run not having to use taxpayer resources in situations like this.
dotdash
Thu, May 30, 2013 : 7:32 p.m.
Great work, restores my faith in our species.
Suki
Thu, May 30, 2013 : 7:32 p.m.
It's that time of year! We had a similar experience on Memorial Day but were able to avoid calling in the fire or water department. This was on Huron Parkway near the roundabout by the Kroger's. 9 baby ducklings had fallen into the sewer drain. The mama and one baby were nearby. One person went home and got a crowbar to pull off the sewer cover and the woman from the Humane Society was able to pull out all 9 of the babies with a long net. It was quite an emotional reunion of mama and babies!
Tesla
Thu, May 30, 2013 : 7:24 p.m.
Hooray!!!!
mady
Thu, May 30, 2013 : 7:19 p.m.
Excellent work guys, thank you for rescuing those precious babies! (a double order of hash for you.....be sure to blow on it first......!!)
An Arborigine
Thu, May 30, 2013 : 7:16 p.m.
Don't feed them the hash!!
Julia Herbst
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 3:10 a.m.
HaHa I find that entire story hilarious. I hope the courts throw the book at that woman for a horrible case that isnt going anywhere.
BHarding
Thu, May 30, 2013 : 7:13 p.m.
Great work. Wood Ducks are so beautiful!