Who doesn’t like nature? A lot of people like to get outside and watch wildlife. Some of the funniest animals to observe are ducks. They are clumsy on land and waddle all over the place. Baby ducks are even more fun to watch. They are cautious but curious, spending most of their time following their mother or siblings around.
Mother ducks often lead their ducklings from place to place.
They take them wherever they need to go to find water or food. They typically make a line and waddle all tightly together. Ducks learn the best route to get to places and they don’t care what stands in their way. One duckling may have recently found this out firsthand.
James Prettyman was at home one day when he got some visitors. He watched as a mother duck led her babies into his house and all around it. He was shocked at what he was seeing, but he also knew it was worth recording. He videotaped the ducks as they waddled around his home.
He said, “I was sitting there, doing all my bills, with all these file folders laid out, working on my computer and all of a sudden I hear this ‘quack.'”
He explained how he watched the ducks and recorded them so he could show his friends and family members.
After all, who would ever believe a story like this without proof? His father said, “How many chances do you have to have nature come through your home. It was so cool he recorded it all.”
These ducks aren’t the first to cause a commotion over their wandering around a strange area. At a school in Michigan, a mother duck leads her babies through a hallway every year. It has become something the school officials and students look forward to watching.
Even the parents come to watch the duck make their annual trek.
Elizabeth Krause, a Village mom who has witnessed the momma duck’s appearance almost every year since her first hatching, explained, “It’s so unusual, but everyone gets so invested in this duck because how cool is it that she comes back every year.”
She and many others in the community are glad that the ducks feel comfortable enough to do this.
They also think it’s a great learning opportunity for the students at the school. Krause continued,
“Ducks have an instinct for danger, so it’s funny that it just trusted that it would get out somehow. I think that really speaks volumes of our community at Village and in Hartland. It shows that we are a safe and caring community.”
A teacher at the school, Mr. Cain said the ducks are a big part of the school and the community. He said, “Everyone knows about the duck because even maintenance (staff) will go to watch, ‘Can we cut the grass in the courtyard yet, or is the duck there?’” I told them, ‘No, you have to wait until the duck is out of there.’”
When the ducks do walk through the halls, the school ropes off the area and allows students and anyone else who wants to watch, to sit quietly while the ducks waddle to their new home.
Most of the students look forward to it. Even students who haven’t attended the school yet are excited about it.
Ducks can be cautious, but once they know that people nearby aren’t a threat, they become trusting.
For these ducks to be willing to take their babies through Mr. Prettyman’s home and the school hallways in Michigan, they must know they are safe places.
As long as everyone continues to observe and not interrupt the ducks, they will probably continue to do this each year. What a treat to get to watch something so amazing up close. Luckily, Mr. Prettyman shared his recording so everyone can enjoy it.
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