200 Ducks Rescued From Truck After Driver Dies

LANCASTER, CA — Some 200 ducks that were found in the back of a box truck have been returned to their owner after the driver who was transporting them died.

On Wednesday morning, officers from the Palmdale Animal Care and Control office responded to assist the California Highway Patrol after officers discovered the ducks. The CHP had responded to a call regarding a driver who was experiencing a medical emergency. Officers arrived to find the driver had died, an Animal Care and Control spokesperson told Patch.

The driver was driving a truck that had around 200 ducks in it.

"With no information about where the ducks were going or who was responsible for them, our priority was clear: get them to safety," the county Department of Animal Care and Control wrote in a social media post.

The ducks were transported to various county animal shelters. They were cared for by county staff while officials worked "to identify their origin and next steps," according to the post.

On Thursday, an DACC spokesperson told Patch that authorities identified the owner of the ducks as Never Ending Quails. The company contacted animal authorities and have since taken custody of the ducks.