9 Ducklings Rescued from Storm Drain

Bethlehem police, firefighters and street crews worked together Tuesday to rescue nine baby ducks that had gotten stuck in a storm drain near the north entrance to the Fahy Bridge, according to a blog post by the city police department.

Emergency personnel were called to the scene at N. New and Center streets at about 12:23 p.m.

Ultimately, Barbara Miller from the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Rescue Center was also called to the scene to take custody of the ducklings because they had been abandoned by their mother, said police, who called the rescue “Operation Duckling.”

According to The Morning Call, however, a mother mallard is what first drew attention to the trapped ducklings. She was quacking and pacing in front of a storm drain and preventing traffic from going through the intersection, according to the newspaper, which quoted Deputy Fire Chief Robert Novatnack.

The mother duck left during the rescue chaos that ensued, the newspaper said.

Bethlehem police Officer Benjamin Hackett, who handles animal control for the city, coordinated the rescue effort.

The Pocono Wildlife Center will keep the ducks until it is time for their release, police said.