Alabama landscaper saves endangered duck from hooked lure

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story originally comes from Fox10 News in Alabama and can be found on its website.

A landscaper jumped into a subdivision pond to rescue a duck that had been swimming for days with a fishing lure hooked through its beak.

Residents in Fairhope’s Fox Hollow subdivision spotted the duck with the lure penetrating through the top and bottom of its beak, leaving its mouth fastened shut. Neighbors tried for days to catch the duck using nets but were unsuccessful.

“We all really rallied together and tried to catch the duck. They are our babies and we feed them. They bring us so much joy,” said neighbor Karen Carter.

Despite reaching out to different wildlife resources, residents were unable to get help for the injured duck. Carter said many agencies told them rescuing ducks was not their specialty. 

“Well a lot were saying that’s not really our specialty. We don’t come out and save ducks. So we had to take matters into our own hands,” Carter said.

Landscaper Ric Bennet didn’t hesitate when he saw the situation. He jumped straight into the pond, clothes and all, carefully catching the duck and removing the hooked lure.