On Monday 30 April, a call came into West Sound Wildlife Shelter on Bainbridge Island from Simone at the Chase Bank on Little Valley Road about some ducklings that had fallen through the open spaces of a sewer grate and into a drain.  I consulted with Mike Pratt, the Director of our Rehab program, and he suggested that I call the Poulsbo Fire Department, where I spoke with Battalion Chief Peterson.

The Chief assured me that they would take a vehicle to the scene, but suggested I also contact Dan at the Public Works Department, where hopefully they would have the proper equipment for the task ahead.  Meanwhile, Mike gathered up a few of our long-handled nets and proceeded to the location.  Not long afterwards, he called to let me know that Mom and all 12 of her babes had been reunited and were safely across the street in a retention pond. Oh happy day!

He also went on to describe the rescue, which required firefighters to crawl into the ditch to block the ducklings from going back into the drain, and also how they had rigged up a coffee can with some string to lift them up and out!

Many thanks are due to all involved, including Simone at Chase Bank, Batt. Chief Peterson and his crew for taking the time and effort required to save these fragile creatures, the Poulsbo Public Works Department for attending to drain issues during the rescue, and the Poulsbo Police Department for providing traffic control.  This incident bespeaks community service at its finest, with many people giving so willingly of their time and going far above and beyond their normal job duties; without such caring and concern from our citizenry, many animals would simply not survive the myriad hazards of our modern world!

Ann Simandl
Poulsbo