Just one month after Lynbrook firefighters rescued a duckling from a storm drain on Wright Avenue, village first responders were back at it on June 30, rescuing four ducklings trapped in another storm drain near Taco Bell on Merrick Road.
According to Lynbrook Fire Department spokesman Steve Grogan, Lynbrook police officers Robert Geldmacher and Joseph Castellano responded at about 6 p.m. to a report of ducklings trapped in a storm drain in the Taco Bell parking lot between Wilson and Taft avenues. The officers found four ducklings deep inside the drain and called for assistance.
First Assistant Fire Chief Peter Festa, who also serves as a Lynbrook police officer, retrieved a portable closet ladder from the Vulcan Company firehouse, while the department’s Emergency Medical Company ambulance, returning from a nearby call, stopped to help.
Using a Halligan tool, responders removed the heavy grate before lowering the ladder into the drain. Officer Geldmacher climbed down and carefully rescued the four ducklings, passing them to emergency medical company members Maurice Edwards, Madison Murphy, Susan Dominguez and Brianna Edwards, who wore protective gloves while handling the birds.
According to Grogan, the ducklings were alert and showed no visible signs of injury. They were reunited with their mother and safely waddled away together.
