Last night, I glimpsed a mother duck and her 3-4 ducklings crossing a busy street near my apartment. Two cars had stopped completely and had their hazard lights blinking as the little family was able to safely make their way across the busy road. Yet, on my way home from hiking this morning, I spied a female duck on the side of that same road, dead. I grabbed my spare critter crate from the trunk and took to investigate; to one, see if this duck was possibly the same mother from last night and two, to try and find and save the remaining ducklings. My heart sank when I reached her. Lying by her side was one dead duckling. It must have been the same family from just last night. The other ducklings were nowhere to be found and I can only hope that someone caring gave them a second chance. Heartbreaking to see these two sides of humanity, stewardship and carelessness, clash so closely. #wildlife #naturalhistory #preciouscreatures #roadcasualties Sorry, but they won't be available for taxidermy due to legalities - they will be buried.
