North Shore Times (New Zealand)
One-legged pet duck hops it from backyard
The unlikely disappearance of a one-legged pet duck has been solved through the grace of social media.
Hoppy, a brown-speckled mallard, went missing from Sue Beatson’s enclosed Devonport backyard on February 25.
With clipped wings, Beatson was under the impression Hoppy could only hop around and was incapable of fluttering above her six-foot fence.
‘‘She must have actually flown. We had clipped her wings to keep her there because she couldn’t survive in the wild, but we obviously didn’t cut them short enough,’’ Beatson says.
Beatson has cared for Hoppy since rescuing her from the banks of a nearby duck pond two years ago, as an injured fledgling.
In an effort to recover her lost duck, Beatson posted on Neighbourly.co.nz: ‘‘We’re thinking maybe a large cat may have nabbed her? So, if you happen to find her in your backyard, we’d be very happy to get her back ... dead or alive.’’
Beatson was called by a neighbour who found Hoppy just a block from her house.
The neighbour had delivered Hoppy to well-known bird carer Sylvia Durrant in Rothesay Bay.
Although the neighbour had thought Hoppy had recently lost her leg, Durrant knew it was an old wound and placed her in the Devonport lake it was assumed she had ventured from.
After being informed of Hoppy’s whereabouts on February 25, Beatson attempted to retrieve her, but was unsuccessful.
‘‘She wouldn’t come out of the water because they’re very nervous when they go into an environment with lots of other ducks and birds,’’ Beatson says.
Thankfully, on the night of March 1, Beatson’s son was able to catch Hoppy from Devonport’s lake.
She returned to a homecoming meal of jellymeat, bread, peas and corn.
‘‘It was quite desolate without her at home, and the dog, Toby, likes her as well. He’s been brought up with ducks,’’ Beatson says.
‘‘We were very happy to get her back, because we knew she wouldn’t last long out in the wild, because she can’t run from dogs.
‘‘We assume she can’t really fly, and I still don’t think she could fly. She must have just gotten over our fence and then walked. So she was in a lot of danger.’’