Rescuers Rush To Save A Starving Feathered Pair Abandoned On A Golf Course In Michigan
Matthew Lyson, the heart behind Michigan Duck Rescue and Sanctuary, got a call about two ducks abandoned on a golf course in Ohio.
These weren’t wild ducks. They didn’t have the skills to survive on their own. Yet there they were, holding on, greeting every passerby, as if begging for a friend to take them home.
Matthew had a full day ahead of him, but when animals are out there waiting, he knew plans had to change, 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.”
He grabbed his gear and called a couple of friends to help, a small team bound by big hearts.
One friend had spotted the ducks, and another came along for backup. Together, they drove for over an hour to see if the little ones were really still there.
When they arrived, the staff at the golf course filled them in. These ducks had been hanging around for weeks, maybe a month, without proper food or shelter.
Coyotes roamed the course at night, and yet these two clung to life.
Matthew’s heart sank when he finally saw them. They were so thin, feathers ruffled, looking for any bit of kindness. Matthew shared:
“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, they stuck together, surviving day by day, hoping someone would notice.
Finding them was only the first challenge. The real test was getting them to trust humans enough to rescue them.
Matthew and his buddy tried the gentlest approach, as he explained:
“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.”
Once the team scooped them up, everyone was so relieved to finally see that those two fragile little ducks, who had begged for attention and care, were finally safe.
On the ride to Michigan Duck Rescue and Sanctuary, the ducks nestled in the arms of their rescuers, feeling for the first time that they were truly protected.
By the time they arrived, the weight of hunger, fear, and loneliness was lifting off their little bodies.
Now, those same ducks enjoy every day surrounded by friends and endless ponds to swim in. They get proper meals, sunbathing sessions, and love in abundance.
From being lonely survivors on a golf course to living freely in a safe sanctuary, they finally have the life they deserve.
It’s moments like these that show how powerful hope and compassion can be. Two tiny ducks went from barely surviving to thriving, all because a few people cared enough to act.
