Community Rallies Around Mother Duck Nesting At Civic Center, Helps Her Guide 8 Ducklings To Water

A Washington community captivated by a mother duck nesting outside a government building were delighted when her ducklings finally hatched last week, and were safely escorted to the waterfront by local police.

The Marysville Police Department this week released a video of the duck family’s police escort, which took place on May 8. Community Service Officers Joie Mette and Emily Delanty had been monitoring the nest outside Marysville Civic Center, and responded along with other officers after residents called to report the ducklings had hatched, and were trying to cross the road.

The mother duck was trying to lead her eight newly hatched ducklings across Fourth Street, and officers cleared the way to guide them to safety.

The video shows CSO Mette and Police Officer Amanda Stewart leading the duck family through downtown Marysville to Ebey Waterfront Park, “where the ducklings waddled into the water,” police said.

“Fun fact: Ducklings are able to walk and swim within hours of hatching. They rely on their mother for warmth, protection and guidance until they learn to fly at about two months old,” police said. “What began with a surprise nest in the Civic Center parking lot ended with a safe, happy sendoff into the wild.”