Lucky duck

The miraculous mallard that survived a head wound from a sharp dart, shot by an unknown assailant sometime during New Year’s week, was returned to its Fryer Creek home Tuesday. The duck had been captured, after a four-day rescue saga, by Deborah Stroski of East Side Animal Rescue and her adopted son, Ector Garcia, 15, along with two of his friends. After antibiotic treatment and a two-week convalescence at Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue, the male mallard (which didn’t acquire a moniker during its brief captivity) was released by Strosky and Garcia (shown above) at the very site of its capture. The freed fowl flew directly out of the transport box, quacking excitedly as Stroski wiped away tears. “I always cry during a release,” she said.

David Bolling/Index-Tribune