The Antrim Fire Department saved the day for lost ducklings on Wednesday after sharp-eyed residents heard peeping coming from a storm drain.

According to Antrim Fire Chief Marshall Gale, residents on Aiken Street in Antrim Village had been seeing a mother duck and ducklings in the vicinity for several days.

“They had not seen the mother duck for 36 hours, but they could still hear ducklings,” Gale said. “The neighbors followed up and looked in the storm drain, and they looked down and saw two ducklings.”

The Fire Department responded to the scene, with Gale, Capt. Jason Bryer and firefighters Peter Moore, Bill Bezio and Matt Mair all assisting. 

“We got them out of the storm drain and transported them to Fish and Game, and Fish and Game took them to Wings of Dawn wildlife rescue who are taking care of the ducklings,” Gale said.

Gale said the duck had apparently moved on to another location without the missing ducklings, 

“My guess is, she had a larger brood, and she left with the other ones, and these two fell in the drain and got left behind,” Gale said. “We had a rough week at the department with multiple accidents, so it was nice to be able to help.”