Orphan Ducklings Rescued After Harrowing Road Crossing

SAN MATEO, CA — San Mateo police officers rescued several orphans Wednesday, each with webbed toes and covered in feathers.

The San Mateo Police Department received a call that several ducklings and their mother attempted to cross busy El Camino Real just after the underpass near Hillsdale Boulevard, according to SMPD Officer Andrew Peek.

When police arrived, they found the mother duck had died and that the surviving ducklings were located on the busy road.

Police helped gather the ducks into a blue bucket and contacted the local SPCA, which came to rescue the ducks.

“Oh ducks! We had to rescue some duckies from El Camino & Hillsdale after a trip across the road was unsuccessful for Mama Duck and her babies. These poor little ones were saved, but mama is now swimming in the big pond in the sky,” the SMPD posted on its Facebook page.

There are several creeks and canals in the neighborhood that Officer Peek believes they likely came from.

There have been some other duck rescues in San Mateo County in recent years. For Officer Peek, who previously lived in El Dorado County, ducklings are no big deal.

“In El Dorado County, wildlife is every day. I'm very versed with bears and mountain lions and coyotes and all that. But I haven't seen it here, though I'm sure it does happen,” Peek said.

The Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA could not be reached at the time of publication to determine where the ducklings are currently.