Daphne the lost duckling
Daphne the duckling was found in the middle of the school playing fields at Bettws School
City Wildlife Care received a call about a tiny duckling all alone in the middle of the playing fields. She was observed for a while but it was clear that she was in need of help.
Daphne was only about one week old and it was difficult to decide just how she came to be on her own in the middle of the vast playing fields. The tiny duckling was quite a long way away from any water and there were no other ducks visible in the area.
City Wildlife and Summerhill staff decided that she had either wandered away from her family and got lost or, much worse, a bird of prey may have picked her up for its tea, and dropped her by accident into the field.
Either way it was clear that Daphne was in a perilous situation if left. She was tiny, defenceless and lost. She could have sustained injuries.
Daphne was rescued by City Wildlife Care and brought into Summerhill Veterinary Centre in a very weak and shocked state. Daphne was taken under the wing of nursing assistant Helen Douglas. Daphne had found her new mum! Helen cared for Daphne as any mother would and Daphne made a speedy recovery after a very wobbly start.
Although tempting to make a lot of fuss of her Summerhill staff know that the best outcome for wildlife is for them to recover their strength and be released back into the wild. Daphne was rehabilitated and is hopefully now living back amongst her own quacking kind! Helen hopes she never forgets her foster mum!
If you come across wildlife giving cause for concern then contact City Wildlife Care who will rescue and rehabilitate any injured wild animals or birds.
