The photo above shows part of two "families" of Mexican Mallards that were orphaned. Four were brought to us by workers with the El Paso Street Department when they were found in a storm drain. Four others were turned over by a local resident who had found them wandering a busy street after their mother was struck by a car. The ducklings were placed together in an incubator to recover. After a few days they were healthy enough to be placed in an outdoor pen with a small "swimming pool" to help them develop their skills.

As the ducks picked up their flying skills they left their backyard pool and flew as a group to the Keystone Wetlands just across the road from the home of the rehabilitator. Now they "pond hop" from one wetland to another along the Rio Grande.

Other recent arrivals include a family of wood duck orphans (right) found in a resident's swimming pool. Several of these ducklings did not survive due to their exposure to chlorine. Those that did have gone on to a more natural habitat in the wetlands.