Duckling Rescue in Collegeville

Thanks to Collegeville Borough Council President Terrie Stagliano for sending in this story and photos!

This morning as I was opening up my business in the Collegeville Shopping Center, I heard a Mommy duck "quacking" frantically. A few minutes before, I heard [KYW-TV meteorologist] Carol Erickson's weather report and she also warned viewers of the fact that baby ducklings were hatching and to please be careful as the ducks will cross the street. She also warned of ducklings falling into storm sewers. I went over to see if this was the case. Sure enough, there were 7 ducklings in the storm sewer with Mommy duck and 3 of her babies circling the grate above.

I called the Collegeville Fire Department and within minutes, there they were! By that time, the other 3 ducklings had also fallen in. While they were removing the grate (which took 6 men to remove it) Mommy duck went crazy and stayed close by.

The 10 ducklings were released to their Mom, but we then realized we needed to regather the babies and release them in the Perkiomen Creek. After doing that, the Director of Collegeville-Trappe's Public Works Department, Joe Hastings, carried the bucket down to the creek with Momma Duck flying close to him.

A happy reunion and VERY relieved Mommy ended the story! Members of the Collegeville Fire Department who responded were:

Collegeville Fire Chief Jay Murphy (he went into the storm sewer)

Mike Duncan

Charlie McCann

Dan DeCecco

Neil Mochie

-- Terrie Stagliano

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