Merganser Chick Release

This orphaned merganser chick’s best change for survival is to be united with a surrogate mother who will take it under her wing. To try and locate a surrogate mother, LTWC volunteers head to a nearby wetland area where mergansers have been spotted. When they see a swimming female merganser, the volunteers hold the chick by the water, hoping that her peeping will get the female’s attention. The female responds, and changes direction to swim toward the chick. Hoping for the best, the volunteers let the chick go, and watch as it and the female swim toward each other. The chick is a little spooked when she first meets the female, but then they pair up — a successful release!