Rescue workers turn out to help trapped duck
BROWNSVILLE – Borough public safety officials received an unusual river rescue call Tuesday. Just around noon police were called to rescue a duck tied to a log in the river near the Brownsville Wharf. A crew from Brownsville Ambulance was dispatched along with the police department. Upon arriving at the scene, Chief Gerald Elliott discovered that the duck was actually tangled in fishing line on a downed tree in the Monongahela River near the mouth of Dunlap Creek.
“I probably could have walked to it by going down along the creek, but I would have been in waist-deep water,” Elliott said.
Elliott said the duck, which originally appeared to be caught by a foot, was thrashing around above and below the water and appeared to get its neck tangled in the fishing line as well. At that point, Elliott decided more assistance was needed than he was able to provide.
The South Brownsville Volunteer Fire Department river rescue boat was called to the scene to cut the duck loose, but before the boat could be placed in the water, the duck managed to free itself.
Elliott said the duck swam away, apparently uninjured. Several ducks were later seen preening and dozing on the bank, none seeming to show any lasting effects of a tangle with the fishing line.