Orphaned duckling flies to new home in Vernon after being rescued during spring floods

VERNON – After a rough start, things are looking up for a rescued duckling.

Vernon resident Heather Clay got in touch with iNFOnews.ca to share the uplifting story and photos from the bird’s recent release back into the wild.

She says the orphaned duckling was first found under a vehicle in Vernon during the spring floods.

“The finders called Laurie Reeves, a local resident who keeps many pet birds,” Clay says. 

Recognizing that it was a wild duck, Reeves called the B.C. Wildlife Park in Kamloops where staff arranged for the duckling to be transferred to their care.

Fast forward several weeks and the happy mallard became strong enough to be released back into the wild. On Friday, Aug. 4, the bird was released into Swan Lake by a B.C. Wildlife Park volunteer.

“The bird was raised in an enclosure where it could only fly a short distance so its first long flight was thrilling,” Clay says. “It flew out over the lake and back to the reeds by the shore.”

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