By Denys Hemen, Hospital Manager

During the spring and summer, Mallard ducklings seem to fall out of the sky in Los Angeles. California Wildlife Center can receive over 350 of these fuzzballs in a typical year.

Because of human development in their natural habitat, Mallards have taken to nesting in suburban yards where pools are present. Sometimes tragedy will strike. Mom gets hit by a car or a dog scares her off and what are left are up to 12 orphaned babies that need to go to a wildlife rehab center.

In the past, International Bird Rescue (IBR) in San Pedro has graciously taken ducklings that the public has rescued and brought to us. IBR specializes in the rehabilitation of ducks, gulls, pelicans and other birds that spend much of their lives in the water. However, as Safer at Home restrictions have caused IBR and other organizations to reduce staffing, they have paused on taking the hundreds of Mallards that will be brought to CWC this spring and summer. In response, CWC has renovated one of our 128 square foot songbird aviaries to accommodate the ducklings! They are very messy little animals. In place of the usual dirt floor, we built a slanted raised platform inside, complete with plumbing for drainage and waterproof surfacing that can be hosed down each day. The new duck suite also has its own kiddie pool for the ducklings to splash around in as much as they want! When life gives you lemons- make duckling enclosures!