Talk about being in the right place at the right time—and with just the right kind of heart. That was certainly the case last week on Blue Ravine Road, when Folsom Animal Control Officer Janet Bradley spotted traffic slowing to a crawl. The reason? A determined mama duck was leading her adorable ducklings across the street—until several of the babies slipped through a storm drain grate right in front of her eyes.
Animal Control Officer Janet Bradley was driving along when she noticed traffic slowing down ahead. The cause? A determined mama duck guiding her fluffy brood across the street. While most of the ducklings made it safely behind their mother, several suddenly vanished—right through the grates of a storm drain.
Officer Bradley immediately stopped and radioed her partner, fellow Animal Control Officer Daya Grondin, for backup. Together, the duo sprang into action. They lifted the storm drain grate and, one by one, carefully retrieved the trapped ducklings.
With patience, teamwork, and no shortage of care, the officers were able to safely reunite the wayward ducklings with a very relieved Mama Duck and their fuzzy siblings waiting above.
“Together, our ACOs safely reunited all the ducklings with a very grateful Mama Duck and the rest of their siblings,” the police department said in a message shared with the community.
The Folsom Police Department shared the uplifting rescue on social media, applauding the quick-thinking officers for their compassion and dedication—not just to people, but to all creatures, great and small.
It’s no surprise the rescue came together so smoothly—Folsom’s Animal Control Officers bring valuable experience to the team. Officer Daya Grondin joined Folsom PD after serving with Sacramento County Animal Control and had previously worked in Folsom through a mutual aid contract. Officer Janet Bradley came from Placer County Animal Control, where she served as an ACO for two years.
The City of Folsom’s Animal Services Team is committed to serving the four-legged—and in this case, web-footed—members of our community. Whether it’s a lost pet, an injured animal, or ducklings in a drain, the team is always ready to help.
To report a lost, found, or distressed animal in the Folsom area, residents can contact the Folsom Police Department’s non-emergency line at 916-355-7231.
Sometimes, good news waddles our way!
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