Heroic Man Reaches Into Sewer to Save Tiny Ducklings Stuck Inside
Being kind to animals can be as easy as placing a bowl of water in the yard on a hot summer day, but one New Jersey man went above and beyond for a brood of ducklings who'd gotten themselves into a dangerous situation. On May 21, Brandon Farrell hopped into action when he realized the baby birds had fallen into a sewer drain, even reaching inside to lift the ducklings out, one by one.
The baby ducklings rescued from the sewer appeared to be healthy and uninjured, but Brandon still didn't leave the birds' side. His wife, Catherine, recorded a video of the entire interaction, which quickly made rounds online. It's even been picked up by major news outlets like ABC News, proving that one small action can have a massive impact.
@abcnews A New Jersey man jumped into action after noticing a brood of ducklings had fallen into a sewer drain. Catherine Farrell said her husband, Brandon, removed the sewer grate and rescued the ducklings. Farrell said they passed the ducklings off to Animal Control, who waited with the ducklings until their mother returned to the scene. #ducklings
original sound - ABC News - ABC News
Brandon is a hero! He stopped at nothing until every single duckling was safe above ground again, even when it meant removing the sewer grate. This must have been a physically and mentally taxing task, but it was worth it to watch the tiny birds waddling away in the grass.
"Those happy little ducklings are thanking you," agreed commenter @tammyh3338. "Beautiful act of kindness for nature" can go a long way, but the duckling rescue was just part one of the mission.
Related: Family of Ducks Helped Across Busy Road by Kind Stranger Restores Our Faith in Humanity
Next, Brandon gave the baby birds to Animal Control, who waited in the area for the mama duck to return-which it sounds like she did! Thanks to the selfless hero, these ducklings got their happy ending instead of waiting in a sewer drain for help that may or may not have come.
Viewers had nothing but praise for Brandon and his selfless actions, though some wished they'd been behind the camera themselves. A man who loves animals is instantly more attractive, but sorry, ladies-he's married!
What To Do If You Find Ducklings
If you find yourself near ducklings in their nest, the only thing to do is consider yourself lucky. Typically, little ones stay with their mom most of the time, but if they're in the nest, she knows exactly where they are. No need to stress!
Finding ducklings alone in an unusual spot is another story. If they're stuck in a small space, like these babies were, Mom might be waiting nearby, but they'll still need help getting to a safe place. Even though some rescues will be as easy as providing a ramp for the ducklings to use, others may need more help.
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Once the birds are free, it's time to focus on reuniting them with Mom. If no mama duck appears within a few hours, it's important to contact local wildlife rehabilitators who can give the orphaned duckling the proper care it needs to thrive. Luckily, though, most moms aren't very far away!
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This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 8:40 AM.