Ducklings Rescued From Storm Sewer By Oswego Firefighters, Police

OSWEGO, IL — Sometimes, humans aren't the only ones who need rescuing. Around 11:30 a.m. Thursday, a group of five black-and-yellow ducklings fell into a storm sewer, prompting Oswego firefighters and police officers to come out and bring them back to dry land.

Battalion Chief Travis Martinez told Patch he was among first responders who arrived at the scene behind Red Robin, on Walter Payton Memorial Highway, after police got a call from a resident who saw the ducklings fall. From there, he said it was only a matter of lifting the top off the storm drain and using a fishing net to remove the ducks one by one.

To "reunite them with the rest of the ducklings," police went out in search of the mother duck, who was walking across the street, Martinez said. Crews temporarily housed the ducklings in a brown box brought out by a manager at Red Robin, who Martinez said was nice of him to lend a helping hand as well."

"They did a great job of saving the ducklings," said manager Paul Varzino. His involvement was minimal, he said and instead gave kudos to police and firefighters for their efforts.

Martinez — who called the rescue a "team effort" — said it's not uncommon for Oswego firefighters to rescue ducklings, especially at this time of year. But it's the first this year, he said.

"We run into it in different times of the year whether it be dogs on the ice in the winter or we joke about cats in trees ... and as long as we are able to keep our members safe, we help out in any way we can," Martinez said.