Ducklings Rescued From Carrollwood Sewer - WFLA-TV Newschannel 8

Hillsborough County Fire Officials spent part of their morning rescuing eight ducklings from an underground sewer.

Belin Artidello was walking her dog this morning, when she saw the ducklings fall through the cracks of the grate. She tells WFLA, "I saw the mother duck with the babies, and I guess the dog must have spooked her or something, and the little babies were jumping through the holes!"  

Artidello then called 911. Dispatchers sent a crew from Hillsborough County Fire Rescue.

Fire officials estimate the ducks fell about 15 feet underground. Crews worked with Public Works to lower a ladder down the hole. A firefighter, armed with a pet carrying crate, made the descent. He says rounding up the eight ducklings was a test of patience -- anytime the ducklings heard a noise, they ran into a pipe and hid.

Eventually, the firefighter got all eight ducklings into the crate, and crews raised it to safety. The ducklings were reunited with their mother and three other siblings, who avoided falling through the cracks.