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 Two ducks try to evade rescue by the Toronto Police Marine unit as they had nowhere to go when Grenadier Pond froze around them, Sunday, December 28, 2009. (QMI/Ernest Doroszuk) |
TORONTO -- The police marine unit sprung into action to pluck to safety two ducks who ended up in the icy soup of a High Park pond last night.
Residents feared the birds would be frozen into Grenadier Pond as the temperature plummeted and called police.
Dressed in dry suits and lifejackets, four officers went into the nearly frozen pond, just north of the Queensway and east of Ellis Ave., to rescue the ducks whose wings had been clipped and were unable to fly to safety.
After about an hour and one failed attempt to capture the birds in a blanket, police tried again using large hooks, nets and poles, while other officers waited to pounce.
"I'm happy it finally worked out," said a tired Alex Singfield, one of the marine unit officers who fell through the ice during the rescue.
"It would've been better if it were one, because the second was a little tricky to catch," added partner Harlen Tinney. "We just wanted to get them onto shore and get more people helping."
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While the ducks -- named Greenie and Brownie after their colours -- have been known to frequent the pond for the past five years, nearby resident Katherine Pawling first noticed they strayed away from their usual north-end hangout on Dec. 19.
EASY PREY
There were fears they would be trapped in the ice and would be easy prey for coyotes.
"I'm just so thrilled," said Pawling, who placed the call to police. "We've saved two lives. The marine unit is just amazing."
Wrapped in blankets, the birds were taken by police to the northern end of the pond where there is open water and the marshy area offers more protection.
Pawling said she called Toronto Wildlife Centre a few days ago, but was told it couldn't help because the ducks are domesticated.
Nathalie Karvonen, executive director of the Toronto Wildlife Centre, said that if the ducks are domesticated, they should be moved to a hobby farm or similar protected environment because they can't fly away to escape predators or find new food sources, she said.
"They're literally sitting ducks as far as predators go," Karvonen said.
Nicola Ware of Toronto Animal Services said they had also received calls about the trapped ducks but couldn't assist in the rescue effort because their officers aren't trained or equipped for ice rescues.
JENNY.YUEN@SUNMEDIA.CA