Letters To The Editor

Thu., July 23, 1998

Orphaned duckling deserved better

Shame on Spokane.

On Monday, July 13, a mother duck decided to take her nine babies for a swim in a condo pool on the South Hill. The residents, thinking the ducks might be relocated to a more suitable place, started calling every government agency in the phone book (Fish and Wildlife, Manito Park, even firefighters, who used to rescue kittens up a tree).

All to no avail.

“Too busy,” “No one available,” and “Illegal” were the excuses. The mother duck was finally persuaded to leave the pool. Unfortunately, she left behind one baby.

So the calling started again, with the same results. That duckling is now in our “custody” and being cared for. Can you just imagine how frightened he is - lost from his mama?

We just hope we can keep him alive, and maybe she will come back to the pool looking for him.

You might not think a baby duckling is worth a second thought, but you would have to be very hardhearted not to care about this little one’s plight. With just a little attention from the proper authorities, all this could have been avoided.

But then, they are all too busy taking care of the grizzlies and wolves. Ducks don’t count.

P.S. We think this story might have a happy ending. A kind person with a proper place has offered to take and care for the duckling. Wanda A. Buchanan Spokane

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