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Frantic mama reunited with 12 ducklings that fell in storm drain

ORWIGSBURG — As if to say 'Come to me, my babies,' a mother duck frantically called out Wednesday morning near a drain in a neighborhood off Market Street. Trapped at the bottom of a five-foot-deep culvert, a dozen of her brood huddled together, apparently unable to answer their mother. * Ducklings huddle together at the bottom of a drain in Orwigsburg, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * A duckling attempts to hop into flight to exit a drain in Orwigsburg, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. The duckling, however, was unable to fly. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Show Caption 1 of 2 Ducklings huddle together at the bottom of a drain in Orwigsburg, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Expand Mother duck's incessant pleas, however, were heard by Tina and Albert Caraballo. The drain through which the ducklings had fallen is in the Caraballo's backyard in the Lantern Green townhouse development. The couple's quick response in covering the grate with cardboard prevented another four ducklings that trailed behind their mother from falling in as well. As the Caraballos awaited response from the Orwigsburg borough and fire department, mama duck encircled the dense thicket on a hillside above the drain, repeatedly calling to her young. A mama duck leads around four ducklings in Orwigsburg, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. The rest of the ducklings fell into a drain.(MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Tina kept a watchful eye on mom, talking to her as she might to a friend in distress. 'I know you're concerned,' Tina said at one point, 'but you must have patience.' Zach Kirsch, a captain in Friendship Hose No. 1, arrived around 11:55 a.m. Already experienced at duckling rescues, Kirsch said it was the third one in recent weeks. Fire Chief Scott Rarick and firefighter Frank McDonough joined the rescue effort. David Benulis, a neighbor, pitched in with a plastic bucket and a rake. Singlehandedly, Kirsch removed the heavy iron grate from the culvert. Fortunately, a step ladder was embedded in the culvert wall. Chief Rarick measured the air quality in the drain before allowing Kirsch, who had on shorts and Army boots, to enter the culvert. Fearing the ducklings would seek refuge in the drain pipe, Kirsch blocked it with the cardboard the Caraballos had placed over the grate. One by one, Kirsch handed the ducklings to McDonough, who gently put them in the bucket Benulis brought. Ten ducklings were rescued. But two, as was feared, escaped into the drain pipe as Kirsch descended into the culvert. Firefighters and borough workers retrieved both of them from other drains. Meanwhile, Tina had cornered mom and her four offspring under shrubbery in front of her house. It was there, after a harrowing two or more hours of separation, that mama duck was reunited with her brood. * Zach Kirsch with the Friendship Hose Co. lifts ducklings out of a drain in Orwigsburg, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * A mama duck sits with her entire brood of ducklings after some were rescued from the bottom of a drain in Orwigsburg, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Show Caption 1 of 2 Zach Kirsch with the Friendship Hose Co. lifts ducklings out of a drain in Orwigsburg, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Expand Fearing a repeat performance should the duck family be left alone, neighbors stood atop grates while others stopped traffic and escorted mama and her 15 offspring across Market Street to their home, a pond behind the Schuylkill EMS compound. 'This happens every spring,' Chief Rarick said. 'Over the years, we've had calls for bees, ducks, pigeons and, naturally, cats.' * A mama duck and her ducklings are ushered across a road and toward a pond in Orwigsburg, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Several ducklings were rescued from the bottom of a drain. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * A mama duck and her ducklings are ushered across a road and toward a pond in Orwigsburg, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Several ducklings were rescued from the bottom of a drain. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * A mama duck and her ducklings make their way back into a pond in Orwigsburg, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Several of the ducklings were rescued after falling into a drain. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * A mama duck and her ducklings make their way back into a pond in Orwigsburg, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Several of the ducklings were rescued after falling into a drain. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Show Caption 1 of 4 A mama duck and her ducklings are ushered across a road and toward a pond in Orwigsburg, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Several ducklings were rescued from the bottom of a drain. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Expand