Desperate duck mom

Four chicks rescued from canal after two hours

(Bild: Freiwillige Feuerwehr Schwechat)

Desperate quacking from a stormwater drain in Schwechat, Lower Austria, prompted local residents to call the fire department on Sunday. Four young ducks were brought to safety and back to their mother.

A desperate quacking from a stormwater drain caused a commotion on Sunday. Residents worried about the ducklings called the Schwechat fire department.  

Four chicks between the manhole covers
According to the Schwechat volunteer fire department, four small chicks were trapped between the manhole covers. To get to them, the sewer pipe between the rainwater inlets was carefully filled with water. An employee wearing protective equipment got into the manhole with an animal transport box. 

Ducks in safety - mom is already waiting
An initial rescue attempt by the fire department failed. With the construction plans for the sewer system and the help of a building yard employee, the little ducks were brought to safety two hours later. They were handed over to the mother duck, who was already waiting.