Want to babysit some ducklings?
For the first time, the Wildlife Rescue Association of B.C., based at Burnaby Lake, is seeking volunteers to watch over its orphaned ducklings.
Hundreds of ducklings end up at the association starting at this time of year after they become separated from their mothers just a few days after the babies are born.
“[Mothers] find somewhere safe for their eggs to hatch and their ducklings to be born and they take them to water and it is usually on that initial journey to water that they can get separated and unfortunately they don’t always choose the most sensible places or there is a road in the way and one or two of the ducklings may get lost or the mother may get injured along the way,” said Yolanda Brooks, the rescue association’s communications manager.
Brooks said sometimes it is human intervention that causes the separation when well-meaning people mistakenly think there is a problem between a mother and her ducklings and they scare the mother away.
Once rescued, the ducklings are cared for at the Wildlife Rescue facility until they are ready to make it on their own, usually by late August.
In addition to the food, water and shelter they receive inside, the ducklings need time outside to waddle around in the grass, eat fresh food, exercise and socialize, but Wildlife caregivers don’t always have time to watch over them outside.
“We get between 35 to 50 animals a day on our busiest days of summer and our wildlife rehabilitators only have time to focus on hands-on medical care,” said volunteer co-ordinator Stefanie Broad in a media release.
In the past, caregivers have watched out the window or checked intermittently while the ducklings were outside, but there are predators around Burnaby Lake such as cougars and a mink that snatched a few ducklings from the association grounds a few years ago.
“With a duckling sitter close by to watch over the ducklings, we know that they will get the outdoor exposure they need without having to worry about their safety or exposure to the elements.”
The volunteer duck sitting position will run throughout the duckling season, which runs daily from May to August and will require two-hour shifts from 11am to 1pm or 1pm to 3pm.
According to Brooks, it is one of the few positions youth under 16 can apply for at the association.
Volunteers must be at least 13 years old, patient and comfortable in the outdoors.
The sitters will get plenty of exposure to the furry newborns, but will not be able to touch or cuddle the ducklings.
“It is a hands off thing. We want the ducks to be wild animals and be able to look after themselves in the wild,” said Brooks.
The search for volunteers has just begun, but Brooks said they have already had some interest.
To find our more about becoming a volunteer go to www.Wildliferescue.ca/Volunteer or call 604-526-2747.
To find out if a duckling is truly in danger and needs to be rescued call the Wildlife Rescue Association Helpline at 604-526-7275.
