These ducks give their neighbors a run for their money

Armed with a net, tarp, raft, waders, corn, a scuba suit and hooks duct-taped to broom handles, about 10 neighbors of Fox Run Regional Park on Sunday were all set to capture two domesticated ducks to keep them away from predators in the winter.

The ducks, nicknamed Huey and Louie, have been living at Aspen Lake in the park since the spring when locals figured their former owner left them there. With their wings clipped, they can’t fly and are so domesticated that they often will eat out of people's hands.

But with winter coming, the ducks’ friends knew that the pond will freeze and their food supplies will dry up. If someone didn’t step in to help they would be, well, sitting ducks for predators.

“We didn’t think they’d make it,” said Kim Canatsey, a park neighbor who often visits the ducks. “We wanted to capture them and get them someplace safe.”

Barb Bernsten led the charge. Bernsten, who owns Happy Hounds pet grooming, has a soft spot for animals.

“But this is my first duck rescue,” she said.

She quickly hatched a plan. She received permission from the parks department to capture the ducks, and her friend Barb Remy, with a ranch in Black Forest promised to give them a safe place for the winter. She gathered up her friends and neighbors and even though no one really had any experience in capturing ducks, they figured they could wing it.

They didn’t account for the snow or frigid temperatures or that the usually docile ducks would be so obstinate. In the end, the scene looked more like a vaudeville comedy routine than a rescue mission.

Wooing the ducks didn’t work. Neither did stringing a tarp to a raft in an attempt to herd the ducks toward the shore. When Bernsten got water in her waders, her hope of success and her pants were chilled.

But this group was determined. In about 40 minutes they scared the two ducks onto the shore and one was caught in a net. The second duck proved to be more resilient. As temperatures continued to drop the duck escaped time and again for almost an hour. The group wasn’t quite sure what to do until Canatsey whipped out her scuba suit. The certified scuba instructor figured that the dry suit, designed for frigid water, was perfect for the occasion. When she swam out, they were able to herd the duck better and get him out of the water again. He flapped his wings as hard as he could, but Debra Wallgren, who works at a bank, made the tackle.

“I didn’t know a banker could tackle a duck like that,” said Bernsten.

With the ducks loaded up in crates and ready to head to their new home the rescuers were happy, but laughing at the ordeal.

“This reminded me of a 'Three Stooges' episode,” Canatsey said.

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Call the writer at 636-0274.