SALEM, Mass. (TNND) — A duck that has become a familiar sight to residents in a Massachusetts city is back in the wild after rescuers took him in and removed a crossbow bolt lodged through its beak.
“The duck did beautifully,” Steven Mark Salowsky, of Newhouse Wildlife Rescue, told the National News Desk in an email.”We are fortunate the piercing was completely superficial, and where it went in and out on the beak did not affect anything,” he added, describing the animal as a “lucky duck.”
Newhouse Wildlife Rescue shared photos of the duck on Facebook, with the images showing the arrow straight through the animal’s beak.
Rescuers said the duck was spotted with the arrow piercing through its bill, entering through one nostril and exiting through the side of its beak, earlier this week. Residents who frequent the local pond where the bird lives alerted the rescue, saying they noticed the injury recently after seeing the duck regularly for at least a year.
Wildlife responders were able to safely capture the duck and remove the bolt. Despite the injury, the bird appeared to be in relatively good condition, according to rescuers.
“Being the duck has been native to that region on the river where it was found for over a year and has a mate — potentially a family — after keeping it overnight for assessment, we have already released it to reunite and reduce its stress,” Salowsky said.
The case has drawn strong reactions from residents, many of whom had grown attached to the duck and helped alert authorities after noticing the injury. Community members also kept watch over the bird until help arrived, according to the rescue.
“We’re grateful that, while one person chose to harm him, so many others chose compassion instead,” Newhouse Wildlife Rescue in the post. “They advocated for him, watched over him, and helped make sure he received the care he needed.”
Beloved duck found with crossbow bolt stuck in its beak, wildlife group says (Video: Steven Mark Salowsky/Newhouse Wildlife Rescue)
It is unclear who is responsible for shooting the duck, but Salowsky said Salem police were notified. He also said environmental police are opening an investigation, while PETA reached out to try and offer a reward to find who shot the duck.
The duck, described as having unusual coloring and a larger size, may be a hybrid between a wild mallard and a domestic duck, though officials said that distinction does not lessen the seriousness of the incident.
“Wild or domestic, no animal deserves this kind of cruelty,” rescuers said on social media.Comment with Bubbles
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The National News Desk reached out to authorities to learn more about the case, as well as possible charges, and is awaiting a response.