Headmaster Julia de la Torre rushed a baby duckling to Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge after it was found injured outside of Stokes Hall in the afternoon on Wednesday, May 9. The duckling had seemingly fallen from the high brick wall on the far side of the courtyard and was unable to stand back up properly. It could not follow its mother into the bush where she and the rest of her ducklings were located.
A group of teachers guarded the area and instructed students to avoid the scene while someone called Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, a nature and rehabilitation center located at the edge of the Pine Barrens in Medford, NJ.
Science Teacher Matt Lubicky, who was on Middle School lunch duty at the time, heard from other teachers that Cedar Run had advised “[not to] put the injured duckling back with the mother because then the mother would possibly neglect the healthy ducklings, of which there were many others.”
According to French Teacher Jobi Dan’sy, Cedar Run said that they currently have a lot of baby ducklings, and added that this “is good because they don’t do well on their own,” meaning that the duckling will be raised alongside a new flock.
de la Torre promptly drove the duckling to Cedar Run, which has been used by Moorestown Friends for many educational programs in the past, and noted that it was her first time going there in person.
“The place is phenomenal,” she said, “I was amazed by how beautifully they cared for this duckling.”
While there, de la Torre received “tracking information” and said that, “over the next three months, we can check in on it and see how it’s doing.”
The duckling will be moved from habitat to habitat, and will eventually be “fostered” by a new duck family, de la Torre explained. Cedar Run estimated that the duckling will recover in approximately three months and hopefully be released back into the wild after doing so.
On Ceder Run’s website, they note that in most situations, “babies can be reunited with their families,” and “the first step [when a baby is found] is to try to reunite the baby with its parents.” However, in this case, the duckling was injured and required professional care. Cedar Run provides an additional list of general guidelines for “Capture & Transport,” which warns of the dangers that can come from handling any wild animal. They say, “When handling any wild animal it is best to reduce contact as much as possible. When scared or injured, wild animals will be even more defensive than normal.” Although they do not pick up injured or orphaned animals, anyone can call and bring injured wild animals to the hospital.
