Ducklings rescued after mother killed by van

A group of 11 ducklings was rescued from the roadside after their mother was killed by a van.

Brinsley Animal Rescue Centre said the young birds were saved after their mallard mother was killed in Annesley Road, Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, last week.

The mother duck had been one of four reported in the last 10 days, the charity said.

Rescue staff are now caring for the ducklings until such a time as they can fend for themselves and be released into the wild.

Rescue centre co-founder Jon Berresford said the mother had died while leading the ducklings across the road.

He added: "What most people don't know is that ducklings are not initially waterproof, so they tend to be hatched in all sorts of strange places, like people's gardens, then when they are ready, the mother leads them to water.

"Unfortunately, they haven't evolved to fear traffic and they just head across roads.

"In this case, some motorists stopped but a van came right through and hit the mother.

"Luckily, it was possible to gather the ducklings up and they are now with us, where they are doing well.

"It's not always easy to collect them because once they lose their mum they get nervous and tend to hide."

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