Lucky Duck Ready to Fly
Bird shot five times with crossbow
By ERIC S. PAGE
Updated 6:27 AM PST, Wed, Nov 4, 2009
You're looking at a veterinary miracle.
This duck was shot by five crossbow arrows at San Diego's Chollas Lake in mid-October. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Jeff Jenkins, known in San Diego as "Dr. Exotic," performed surgery on the the Muscovy duck at the city's Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital.
On Friday, the bird went to the Sky Hunters raptor rehabilitation center for some additional time to recover. He will be released this week to fly over Chollas Lake again, according to Nancy Conney, the center's director.
"He's doing well, eating good, walking good, all thanks to the expertise of Dr. Jenkins," Conney said.
Initially, the vet was concerned he might not be able to save the duck's right eye, but in the end, that wound healed as well as the legs he uses to take off.
Since the animal was so friendly, Jenkins believes it is feral domestic duck.
"My guess is somebody let him go," Jenkins said in October.
The vet thinks the friendly bird just walked up to its attacker, since he suspects the duck was shot at short range.
First Published: Nov 3, 2009 10:35 AM PST
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