Sitting Ducks
May 30, 2010 7:07 PM Subscribe
Trying to help a family of ducks trapped in an empty swimming pool.
Yesterday my friends/neighbors noticed a duck and her dozen ducklings walking around the bottom of the abandoned municipal swimming pool on the lot next door to our apartments. The mother was trying to help the little ones hop up the steps in the shallow end of the pool, but they were too small or too weak to make it all the way up to the top. After seeing that they were not going to be able to get out on their own, we hopped the fence to the pool and tried to build some kind of makeshift steps out of bricks that the ducklings would be able use, but only succeeded in angering the mother.
Today, my friends went back to leave some food for them and saw that several ducklings have already died. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what we can do? So far, we have called animal control, the humane society, the local police, and our apartment's maintenance guy, but no one seems to be around on Memorial Day weekend. I have been told that there is nothing that can be done tonight and that I can only call back tomorrow to see whether animal control will be on duty. If there is any way to help these little guys out before then, I would love to hear it. We have not handled (or tried to capture) either the mother or the ducklings and don't want to keep them as pets or anything. We just want to help them avoid a slow demise and/or the neighborhood cats that we have seen lurking around the pool. This is in Boulder, Colorado, if that helps.
Yesterday my friends/neighbors noticed a duck and her dozen ducklings walking around the bottom of the abandoned municipal swimming pool on the lot next door to our apartments. The mother was trying to help the little ones hop up the steps in the shallow end of the pool, but they were too small or too weak to make it all the way up to the top. After seeing that they were not going to be able to get out on their own, we hopped the fence to the pool and tried to build some kind of makeshift steps out of bricks that the ducklings would be able use, but only succeeded in angering the mother.
Today, my friends went back to leave some food for them and saw that several ducklings have already died. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what we can do? So far, we have called animal control, the humane society, the local police, and our apartment's maintenance guy, but no one seems to be around on Memorial Day weekend. I have been told that there is nothing that can be done tonight and that I can only call back tomorrow to see whether animal control will be on duty. If there is any way to help these little guys out before then, I would love to hear it. We have not handled (or tried to capture) either the mother or the ducklings and don't want to keep them as pets or anything. We just want to help them avoid a slow demise and/or the neighborhood cats that we have seen lurking around the pool. This is in Boulder, Colorado, if that helps.
You could lay some boards, old carpet, or the like over the steps to form a ramp that would make it easier for them to climb out. There's a fountain on the UW campus with ducks and ducklings in it, and facilities has built a shallow ramp so they can walk in and out.
posted by JiBB at 7:19 PM on May 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by JiBB at 7:19 PM on May 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
If you need a temporary measure, get a cheap wading pool. For a way out, get a 2x6 and buy some grip tape, and then place strips on it so they can walk up the ramp without slipping.
posted by azpenguin at 7:21 PM on May 30, 2010
posted by azpenguin at 7:21 PM on May 30, 2010
Check the cat situation before you pitch them out. Maybe a short trip in a dog-carrier is in order.
posted by StickyCarpet at 7:22 PM on May 30, 2010
posted by StickyCarpet at 7:22 PM on May 30, 2010
Response by poster: We actually tried a ramp first, but the ducklings just ran around beneath it until the mom squashed it. As soon as we approach the pool, the mom leads them all into the yucky rainwater in the deep end of the pool and they stay there until we go away. Any suggestions as to the best way to corral half a dozen terrified birds?
posted by mustard seeds at 7:24 PM on May 30, 2010
posted by mustard seeds at 7:24 PM on May 30, 2010
If you're reluctant to touch the ducklings, you could bring a three-sided cardboard box and shoo them in there for easy transport. You might also consider leaving some water and food (bread? cracker crumbs? probably wouldn't hurt them for one meal) nearby, so they can start working on getting their strength back.
posted by Bardolph at 7:26 PM on May 30, 2010
posted by Bardolph at 7:26 PM on May 30, 2010
Response by poster: Ack I didn't preview -- thank you for these suggestions!
posted by mustard seeds at 7:27 PM on May 30, 2010
posted by mustard seeds at 7:27 PM on May 30, 2010
Don't give them bread! It gums up their crop and can kill them. If you want to give them food, throw a bunch of dandelion greens down there.
posted by bolognius maximus at 7:32 PM on May 30, 2010
posted by bolognius maximus at 7:32 PM on May 30, 2010
I'd definitely get them some food - maybe some kind of bird chow or, yes, bread or crackers, and probably some fresh water in a big, shallow, non-tippable bowl for drinking. Just leave it there, maybe throw some near the mother duck so she might try some. It sounds like these guys need sustenance even if they're able to leave soon.
A cardboard box with a door cut in it might give them some shelter for the night.
I know there's a chance they might not go for any of this, but it's worth a try.
posted by amtho at 7:38 PM on May 30, 2010
A cardboard box with a door cut in it might give them some shelter for the night.
I know there's a chance they might not go for any of this, but it's worth a try.
posted by amtho at 7:38 PM on May 30, 2010
OK, not bread. Thanks for the info. They eat insects in the wild, right? Anybody know if dog food or cat kibbles would work?
posted by amtho at 7:39 PM on May 30, 2010
posted by amtho at 7:39 PM on May 30, 2010
Gee, I'd just pick them up and let them out. Mom won't abandon them - I don't know about other birds, but with ducks and geese, that's a myth.
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 7:48 PM on May 30, 2010
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 7:48 PM on May 30, 2010
No bread, looks like-- sorry about that! Perhaps some ground-up hard-boiled eggs? This old-timey source recommends hard-boiled eggs, cornmeal, cracker crumbs, and sand, among other things.
Also, if you're up for retrying the ramp idea (perhaps with the addition of a carpet/old blanket for traction), you might try encouraging exploration by leaving a trail of food up the middle.
posted by Bardolph at 7:49 PM on May 30, 2010
Also, if you're up for retrying the ramp idea (perhaps with the addition of a carpet/old blanket for traction), you might try encouraging exploration by leaving a trail of food up the middle.
posted by Bardolph at 7:49 PM on May 30, 2010
Dog food might be ok, but it would probably be tough for them to eat. They eat worms (Walmart, baitstore, backyard), insects, dandelions and aquatic plants, and little fish.
Nthing catching the babies. Good luck!
posted by bolognius maximus at 7:51 PM on May 30, 2010
Nthing catching the babies. Good luck!
posted by bolognius maximus at 7:51 PM on May 30, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks everyone! While I consulted the Internet, my more practical friends went back outside and managed to intimidate the duck family out of the watery deep end and towards the makeshift steps. After much running and flapping around, it appears that everyone is back on solid land. Hurray!
For future duck rescuers, the mom did not attack when my friends were trying to herd her babies. It sounds like they had to be pretty aggressive and the little guys were really freaked out, but it all ended up okay.
posted by mustard seeds at 8:07 PM on May 30, 2010 [9 favorites]
For future duck rescuers, the mom did not attack when my friends were trying to herd her babies. It sounds like they had to be pretty aggressive and the little guys were really freaked out, but it all ended up okay.
posted by mustard seeds at 8:07 PM on May 30, 2010 [9 favorites]
Be prepared for this to happen again - I have a friend who works in an office complex with a deep planter. Every year a mother duck lays her eggs in the planter, and every year the workers have to step in and move the ducklings onto the land. The first year or so the mother complained loudly; now, when the children are ready she shows up at the back door of the office and waits for someone to give her a hand!
posted by Gortuk at 7:11 AM on May 31, 2010 [14 favorites]
posted by Gortuk at 7:11 AM on May 31, 2010 [14 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:17 PM on May 30, 2010 [1 favorite]