A community in Thirsk has come together to keep watch over a group of ducks.
The ducks have got into the habit of striding into the town centre at the same time every evening.
Jodie Wood, who works at a hotel in Thirsk, thought she could be the one to help them stay safe as she regularly works nights.
Jodie and her work colleague started putting out cones to protect them from cars. She then created the Facebook page, ‘Thirsk ducks’, which got over 1,700 followers overnight.
“I can’t take all the credit for this, I just made the Facebook group,” said Jodie. “The local community have been fantastic in helping out.
“I was inspired to make the page just to make people aware that they’re there.”
Unfortunately there had been a couple of accidents, where a couple of ducks and ducklings were run over.
Via the group, Jodie could ask for help with the duck-watch while she’s at work, with volunteers commenting when they are available.
The ducks come from the river at 8.30pm every night to waddle into town and rest on the cobbles to go to sleep.
Volunteers will put the cones around them and stay with them – “some until the early hours” – then the ducks leave for the river again at around 6.30am.
The ducks are thought to come into town due to predators including a mink and otters being in the river.
Jodie said that the reaction has been “immense. People are travelling from all over to come and see the ducks and chat to the volunteers. I can’t believe how big it’s got.”
The group have faced a few challenges along the way, such as their first set of cones getting taken away by the council.
“People are so generous though,” Jodie said, “buying cones, tape, chains and signs to put around them to protect them.”
Jodie commented that she hoped to have had more support from the council but unfortunately has not.
“Our local town councillor has now got involved and asked the council not to remove the cones, and they now get stacked on the side of the cobbles ready for the next night.”
To find out more about the Thirsk ducks and the volunteers who help them, visit the Facebook group page here.