![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Duck-families-safely-navigate-town-streets-every-night-in-Thirsk-England-thanks-to-volunteers-SWNS-..jpeg\")
Duck families safely navigate town streets every night in Thirsk England thanks to volunteers \u2013 SWNS<\/p>\n Duck families safely navigate town streets every night in Thirsk England thanks to volunteers \u2013 SWNS<\/p>\n
Volunteer \u2018duck wardens\u2019 are helping a group of mallards safely waddle across town after they chose a parking lot as the best place to roost with their ducklings.<\/p>\n
15 citizens have answered the duck call in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, rotating shifts to personally escort 20 birds to the town center every evening.<\/p>\n
The birds start the 15-minute journey from The Cod Beck river at around 8:30pm and head to the market square car park where they sleep until around 4:30am the next morning.<\/p>\n
Mystery surrounds the reasons why the ducks make the daily trip, but some believe the mothers feel safer sleeping with their ducklings away from riverside predators.<\/p>\n
Emma-Jayne Hutchings, one of the volunteers acting as a crossing guard, thinks it might be because the cobblestones they sleep on are warm. Whatever the reason, it has now become a learned behavior.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is really heartwarming and adorable escorting the ducks on their walk,\u201d the 48-year-old business advisor told SWNS news agency.<\/p>\n
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Volunteer crossing guard keeps ducks safe nightly in Thrisk-SWNS<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know whenever they are leaving (the river) as they all start quacking like a call for arms then they march up in two battalions.<\/p>\n
Once the waterfowl have reached their parking lot, the volunteers place traffic cones around them and watch over until the town falls silent at around 11pm on weekdays or sometimes as late as 2:30am on the weekend, when there may be \u2018drunk revelers\u2019 heading home from the pub that adjoins the car park.<\/p>\n
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Sleepy ducks kept safe with traffic cones \u2013SWNS<\/p>\n
Perhaps best of all, Emma-Jayne says it brings the town in northern England together.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has brought a wealth of community spirit with all parts getting involved to make sure the ducks are safe.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have been donated high-visibility jackets to wear. One local pub, the Mowbray Arms provides us with cups of tea or coffee whilst we watch over the them.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been a really nice way to meet like-minded people, who have since become friends.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Traffic-cone-marks-sleeping-spot-for-Thirsk-ducks-SWNS-SQUARE.jpg\")
Traffic cone marks sleeping spot for Thirsk ducks-SWNS<\/p>\n
The mallards first started making the trek last year and, unsupervised, it led to four being killed whilst crossing the road.<\/p>\n
As a result, Jodie Wood set up a Facebook page and now organizes volunteers along with Emma to keep them safe.<\/p>\n
\u201cI made a Facebook group asking if anyone wanted to help me with the ducks and it got lots of responses.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Mallard-duck-with-ducklings-and-traffic-cones-SWNS.jpg\")
Mallard duck with ducklings and traffic cones-SWNS<\/p>\n
The ducks begin their evening adventures in mid-June and continue doing so until the beginning of December.<\/p>\n
The volunteers say they don\u2019t encourage the ducks to make the walk. They only look after them while they make the decision on their \u201cown terms\u201d.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ducks-walking-through-English-town-SWNS-SQUARE.jpg\")
Flock of ducks walking through town \u2013 SWNS<\/p>\n
\u201cThey start walking at about 8:30pm and we walk with them and wait to see where they want to go\u2014and put the cones around them,\u201d said Jodie.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes we get drunk revelers trying to touch them, mess with them, and walk through them. But 99 percent of the time it\u2019s fine and people just come to chat and take pictures.\u201d<\/p>\n