Michigan Rescuers Step In To Save A Feathered Pair Abandoned And Starving On A Golf Course

Matthew Lyson, who runs Michigan Duck Rescue and Sanctuary, got word about two lonely ducks left behind on a golf course in Ohio.

Imagine that: two young, domestic ducks sitting in the middle of a golf course like they belonged there, hoping someone would notice them.

They weren’t wild enough to survive on their own, but they still tried their best, greeting golfers as if they were looking for a friend to take them home.

Matthew already had a busy rescue day planned, but when animals are out there waiting, you just know you have to drop everything and go, as he shared on Facebook:

“When you see two sweet little, barely adult, dumped domestic ducks, craving attention on Crosswinds Golf Course in Perrysburg, Ohio, you pretty much have to change plans quickly, and head out for the hour and ten minute drive to investigate.”

Matthew didn’t head out alone. A couple of his friends, who are just as soft-hearted as he is, jumped in to help.

One tipped him off about the ducks, another rode along for backup. And honestly, it felt like a little team effort to give these two abandoned souls a second chance.

By the time they arrived, the golf course staff explained that the pair had been hanging around for weeks, maybe even a month.

No food, no safety, just wide open fields where coyotes roamed at night. The ducks had been trying to charm every golfer they saw, probably desperate for someone to care.

Matthew’s heart sank when he finally saw them. They were so thin, it was obvious they hadn’t been eating well. He continued:

“They were so starved, it is no surprise they were trying to make new friends. I was also so surprised that they made it that long, as coyotes were known to traverse the course frequently.”

Still, there they were, sticking together, surviving day by day. It’s wild how animals cling to hope even in the hardest circumstances.

Finding them was only half the job. The real challenge was bringing them in without scaring them. Matthew and his buddy tried the soft approach: a little bag of nuts as a peace offering.

Slowly but surely, the ducks waddled closer, trusting just enough to take the bait. Matthew shared:

“As I sprinkled a few nuts on the green (all I had for bait, but it worked), they got close enough for us to make our simultaneous move. On the call, I gently picked up the little Indian runner, as Mike pounced on the timid Pekin.”

And then, at last, they were safe. The moment they scooped them up, it was pure relief.

Two hungry, abandoned ducks were finally wrapped in arms that promised they wouldn’t be left behind again.

They rode in the car cradled the whole way, and by the time they reached Michigan Duck Rescue and Sanctuary, you could almost feel the weight lift off their feathers.

Now, those same ducks who once begged strangers for kindness have all the friends they could ever dream of.

They spend their days swimming in big ponds, munching on real meals, and soaking up the love that should’ve been theirs all along.

From a lonely golf course to a sanctuary full of life, it’s the happy ending every lost animal deserves.