Lucky duckies saved after falling down Calgary storm drain
Eight fuzzy ducklings were rescued from a precarious situation on Friday, thanks to Calgary police and workers from the City of Calgary.
The ducklings had fallen through a private catch basin in the parking lot of the AutoClean Car Wash in Midnapore, and sat quacking at the bottom as their mother stood on the asphalt above, unable to help.
Andrea Stewart works in the nearby Midnapore Business Centre, which backs onto the parking lot, and says she and her colleagues rushed into action.
"One of our tenants came out at 9:30 a.m. to advise us that we had a problem that needed to be dealt with, and then informed us that he had just seen a mama duck and approximately 10 babies walking through the parking lot behind our building, and the babies fell down into the grate."
They called 311 and some local wildlife organizations while they stood over the drain to keep an eye on the ducklings in distress.
Calgary police were the first to arrive on scene, and were able to remove the grate.
Several ducklings that had become trapped in the Calgary community of Midnapore were rescued on Friday, June 2, 2023. "It took them a full 30 minutes to get the sewer grate lifted," said Jennifer Fraser, who works in the business centre.
It was determined there were eight ducklings stuck in the cavern, all of which were desperate to be reunited with their mother.
Luckily for the ducklings, the officer on scene actually had a background in biology.
"This officer, I think he knew exactly the right thing to do," Fraser said. "There had been a lot of onlookers crowding around and I think they were scaring the mom away, but once the officer arrived, he was able to encourage (the people) to sit back, let that mama come and call to her babies and I think that's what really did the trick."
The officer lowered himself into the slender drain, and was able to pick up one duck, placing it down in the parking lot and letting it race over to its mother.
Several ducklings that had become trapped in the Calgary community of Midnapore were rescued on Friday, June 2, 2023. The officer continued to save the stranded fowl, lifting five of the eight to safety, one by one.
"We were cheering –the whole waiting room upstairs was cheering – it was definitely a happy moment."
Several ducklings that had become trapped in the Calgary community of Midnapore were rescued on Friday, June 2, 2023. The remaining three ducklings proved more difficult to liberate, as they continued to run into a pipe connected to the basin, away from their would-be rescuers.
Several ducklings that had become trapped in the Calgary community of Midnapore were rescued on Friday, June 2, 2023. Eventually, workers from the City of Calgary's water services department were able to get the final three ducklings to freedom at around 2:30 p.m., roughly five hours after the ordeal began.
Several ducklings that had become trapped in the Calgary community of Midnapore were rescued on Friday, June 2, 2023.
At that point, the mother duck was nowhere to be found, but a citizen volunteered to take the duckings to a local wildlife centre.
For more information on how to report abandoned, injured or orphaned wildlife, you can visit the City of Calgary's website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Five areas Canada's foreign interference commissioner says needs more investigation
Commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue released her interim report examining foreign election interference on Friday. Here are five elements of the issue that Hogue says she needs to further probe before she can make conclusions or recommendations.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
Why your airfare may be getting more expensive
Skyrocketing airfare prices are linked to heightened competition and rising food and fuel, according to the CAA.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
New weight-loss drug Wegovy not a 'magic bullet,' doctor warns
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Funeral today for broadcasting legend and voice of 'Hockey Night in Canada' Bob Cole
A funeral is being held today for hockey broadcasting legend Bob Cole in his hometown of St. John's, N.L.
Foreign meddling 'did not affect' overall federal election results: inquiry report
Foreign interference by China did not affect the overall results of the 2019 and 2021 general elections won by Justin Trudeau's Liberals, a federal commission of inquiry has found.