Rural Gardening: For the love of Ducks, 1 by jenniealice

jenniealice wrote:
Today I got a call from my boyfriend as he was on his way to work, saying that he saw a new duck at the local pond by the side of the road. He said it was alone (we keep track of what ducks show up there) and a juvenile. Well . . . I go down there and the poor little girl is completely beat up, looking absolutely awful and obviously malnourished. A local couple coming down to feed the birds said, just as we thought, it's a new addition someone had dumped. I couldn't help myself, I brought her home. I don't think she would've lasted any longer out there, and here, she can get adequate food, water, and shelter. By the way I also ordered the electric fencing for the yard. Right now she's following one of my boys (Early Bird) around and he doesn't know what to think! Every once in a while he turns around and chases her telling her "Leave me alone!" I'm not letting all three boys meet her at the same time--she's traumatized enough. I think it might be worth it to take her down to the vet this week, too.
Anyway, I got worked up enough to write letters to the editor to the local papers that told the little girl's story, and asking locals not to dump their ducks as it is not happily ever after for them.
She's very skittish and never going to be completely comfortable around people, but she seems to have already attached to my ducks. I just couldn't let her suffer like that. I have more than enough room for a duck in need.