It is truly inspiring to witness ordinary individuals going the extra mile to assist animals in need. This heartwarming incident unfolded recently when a couple decided to rescue a group of baby ducks that had become trapped in a storm drain gate.
Crystal Guinnane and her husband Gary, residents of Manteca, California, were en route to lunch when they noticed a distressed mama duck standing outside a storm drain in scorching 85-degree weather.
The mama duck’s distressed quacking conveyed a sense of urgency, and Crystal, being a mother herself, instinctively sensed that help was required. Sharing her experience on TikTok, she stated, “My maternal instincts told me that something was amiss.” Consequently, the couple promptly pulled over to investigate and discovered that the baby ducklings had fallen into the depths of a sewer storm drain grate, desperately attempting to escape. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, they felt compelled to intervene.
@thatonegirl209 On our way to lunch today we noticed a mama duck out in the 85° heat standing in the road quacking and looking visibly distressed at a storm drain grate. My mama heart told me that something was wrong and I had a feeling that she had lost her babies inside of the storm drain. We pulled over and my husband looked down the grate and noticed that they were babies trying to jump out, he pulled the grate off and climbed into the storm drain. there were a total of eight baby ducks inside that were alive. We were able to save all eight of them. But one of them was unfortunately already dead. And part two of the reunion and what happened to one of the ducks next. #an#animalrescuee#rescuea#babyducks ♬ Spider-Man 2099 (Miguel O'Hara) – Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – Daniel Pemberton
Gary bravely lifted the heavy grate and descended into the storm drain, embarking on a mission to rescue the imperiled ducklings. With determination and care, he lifted each duckling to safety. In a subsequent video, Crystal joyfully reported that the reunited family of ducklings was spotted swimming together in a nearby pond during their return from lunch.
Regrettably, two of the ducklings did not survive the ordeal. One was found lifeless within the storm drain, while the other fell victim to a vehicle in a parking lot. Nonetheless, the swift intervention of Crystal and Gary ensured the safety and well-being of seven other ducklings.
@thatonegirl209 Part 2: Duck reunion. When we left lunch, we saw mom and dad with her babies swimming happily in the pond. Unfortunately, there were only seven out of the eight that we had saved. Once we got back to our truck, we noticed that one of the baby ducks was ran over in the parking lot. So unfortunately, two of the mama ducks babies were lost 😢 #animalrescue #rescue #babyducklings ♬ Spider-Man 2099 (Miguel O'Hara) – Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – Daniel Pemberton
Crystal shared with McClatchy News, “We reside near Bass Pro Shop, where a large lake is located. Each spring, we make it a tradition to visit and observe the ducklings. We did not anticipate encountering baby ducks in the summertime.” Wildlife officials advised McClatchy News that it is generally preferable to leave wildlife undisturbed and, in the case of an injured baby animal, to contact a wildlife rehabilitation center or fish and game office.
Nevertheless, numerous individuals applauded this couple for their heroic act of rescuing the ducks. “Not all heroes wear capes,” commented one person on TikTok.
