Ranger Archive

Thought I'd share a humerous story with my fellow Rangers.

On the drive home last night my daughter noticed a family of ducks walking down the sidewalk just a couple blocks from our home. We pulled over to watch them waddle along. I got to thinking... These ducks were a long way from any body of water. And they are smack dab in the middle of a newly developed neighbourhood which meant construction, heavy trucks and constant traffic! A quick glance around also revealed a neighbourhood Rotweiller sitting on his porch. I came to the conclusion that these ducks weren't going to make it. I had my wife drive the truck home to pick up a box. In the meantime I cornered the ducks between two houses and waited for my wife's return.

Box in hand, the fun began. I managed to get all seven ducklings, but the mother was to quick. I knew it would be impossible to catch her, so I started walking. Five kilometres South of my house is a river with many inlets and slow moving sections. I thought this would be their best chance. Now the problem at hand was the mother duck. How would I get her to follow me? I'd have to let the squawks of the ducklings be her guide. I began the slow walk to the river, mother duck in tow. I lost the mother duck several times and had to back track. Some high grass proved to be some good cover for her to hide in. Two and a half hours later I came to the base of ravine to find what I had been looking for. A large pond that received a steady stream of water from the adjacent river. The mother duck, sensing the water, landed and quacked loudly at me to release her young brood from their cardboard prison. It was a touching reunion; the mother duck and her young. Needless to say I'm a hero in my daughter's eyes. What a great end to a tough day at the office!

I am a Master Ranger and apparently a finder of lost ducks.

SBKImperial