Duckling rescue refused by Village of Arlington Heights on Wilke Road near Pheasant Trail on north side of Arlington Heights (CARDINAL NEWS). YouTube Tips ⓘ
An Arlington Heights resident told CARDINAL NEWS that according to a Northwest Central Dispatch System (NWCDS) 911 Center call taker, police and firefighters from Arlington Heights couldn’t respond Sunday afternoon, May 17, 2026 to a call for help to rescue ducklings trapped in a storm sewer because the the police department didn’t have a unit available, the animal control officer was off duty on Sunday, and the fire department has a policy against responding to duckling rescue calls.
A resident of Arlington Heights was out for a walk and noticed a duck quacking by a storm sewer at the southwest corner of the Arbor Lakes driveway and Wilke Road in Arlington Heights. The resident investigated the area and discovered that some baby ducks fell through the grate. The mother duck was pacing frantically at ground level near the sewer with a single duckling following her while at least four ducklings were trapped in a storm sewer about 10 feet below ground. The resident rushed home to get a cell phone and then drove back to the scene over at Arbor Lakes, and called 911 at 2:27pm. The resident was concerned, but told the NWCDS call taker that the incident was not an emergency. The 9-1-1 call taker listened to the details, and said they would see if a (police) car is in the area. NWCDS called back in about 10 minutes and said they don’t have the equipment, and “the fire department doesn’t deal with this.” Also, the call taker told the resident that animal control doesn’t work on a Sunday. With the understanding that there would be no help from authorities, a few residents from the Arbor Lakes area came to help with a bucket and a 16-foot dog leash. Then another resident came with a kid’s soccer net that the group lowered down to try and catch the ducklings. Unfortunately, after an hour and a half of trying to rescue the ducklings, the group of citizens gave up. Someone called the Arbor Lakes apartment office, but the reply from the Arbor Lakes office was that since nobody in the group were residents of the apartment complex, they wouldn’t take a note about the ducks. The group then asked some good folks that arrived, who live at the complex, to call the apartment office.
Chicago Bird Collision Monitors
Chicago Bird Collision Monitors (CBCM) is a volunteer conservation project dedicated to the protection of migratory birds through rescue, advocacy and outreach.
The best help was offered from the Village of Arlington Heights police desk personnel, who offered to call a third party bird rescue, “Chicago Bird Collision Monitors.” Initially, CARDINAL NEWS called the police desk to ask if the Public Works Duty Man could be assigned to rescue the ducklings. The police desk replied that they would notify the Duty Man. However, Arlington Heights Public Works replied that they could not respond because the storm sewer involved private property.
The area where the ducklings were trapped was a vertical barrel “manhole” with a domed, grated cover and a built-in permanent ladder below ground at the southwest corner of the Arbor Lake entrance and Wilke Road. The scene was just southwest of the intersection of Wilke Road and Pheasant Trail. The citizens attempting the rescue removed the domed cover, but didn’t climb down into the barrel, fearing their safety. Instead, they reached into the manhole vertical barrel with some makeshift devices to attempt to scoop up the ducklings, who were floating in shallow water at the bottom. Most likely, this would have been a quick, easy job for firefighters to resolve. Besides checking for hazardous gases or hazardous chemicals in the storm sewer, the rescue should have been a quick, easy rescue with the proper equipment and personnel, such as Arlington Heights firefighters. There are many cases where fire departments in Chicagoland, and across the nation, respond to this type of emergency.
A resident checked back at the scene later Sunday night, but the ducklings were no longer chirping, and the mother and father duck and the single duckling were no longer in the area. CARDINAL NEWS checked back with Chicago Bird Collision Monitors after the news of “no ducks at the scene” and learned that no Chicago Bird Collision Monitors volunteers had rescued the ducks. Therefore, unless some other citizens rescued the ducklings, they drifted downstream in the storm sewer.
One citizen told CARDINAL NEWS, we see duckling rescues by fire departments on the news frequently. It was frustrating not to get any help from firefighters or the Village of Arlington Heights.
There are a number of examples recently where firefighters or public works personnel in other communities have rescued ducklings …
Tempe, Arizona
Home of Arizona State University
Tempe Fire Medical Rescue
April 23, 2026
“A small rescue that is sure to make you smile.
Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Tempe called our non-emergency line after a group of ducklings fell into a drainage pipe and couldn’t get out. Mom and dad were nearby, keeping watch.
Our crew from Station 3 safely rescued all four ducklings and reunited them with their family.
Need help with a non-emergency situation? Call 480-350-8311.
We’re always here for the community and sometimes that includes our smallest residents too.”
— Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Department
Chicago Duckling Rescue
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Mother’s Day
CPD officers, water management crews rescue 12 ducklings from sewer drain on Mother’s Day 2026 (CBS Chicago). YouTube Tips ⓘ
CANAL FULTON-LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, Ohio
Sunday, May 17, 2026
SUN MAY 17 2026 — Canal Fulton – Lawrence Township Fire Department firefighters and Canal Fulton Police (Ohio)officers responded to an unusual rescue assignment at Pizza Hut involving a group of ducklings trapped in a storm drain near the business.
Crews worked together to safely access the drain and reunite approximately 11 ducklings with their mother nearby.
Firefighter Soto is pictured holding one of the rescued ducklings following the successful operation.
Great teamwork by everyone involved and a happy ending for some very small residents of our community
‘Unusual Rescue:’ Ducklings trapped in storm drain near Pizza Hut
CANAL FULTON-LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WOIO) – The Canal Fulton-Lawrence Township Fire Department responded to what they called an “unusual rescue” Sunday.
According to rews were called to a Pizza Hut where a group of ducklings were trapped in a nearby storm drain.
The department said its crews worked to rescue the 11 ducklings and reunited them with their mother.
“Great teamwork by everyone involved and a happy ending for some very small residents of our community,” the fire department said.
Murietta, California
April 26, 2026
Murietta, California firefighters rescue ducklings from a storm sewer on April 26, 2026 (ABC7 News). YouTube Tips ⓘ
Westbrook, Connecticutt
May 15, 2026
Westbrook firefighters save ducklings from storm drain (NEWS 8 WTNH). YouTube Tips ⓘ
Westbrook firefighters rescue ducklings from storm drain — NEWS 8 WTNH
Alameda County, California
2024
Alameda County firefighters rescue ducklings from a storm drain (ABC 7 News Bay Area). YouTube Tips ⓘ
The information in this article is an early report published before any summary information was confirmed or released by police or fire authorities.
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