Ducklings rescued from drain near La Quinta golf club

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KABC) -- Riverside County Animal Services officers on Friday rescued 11 ducklings that had somehow ended up in the bottom of a wash drain pit near the La Quinta Golf Estates.

Since the officers couldn't climb down the 25 feet to the bottom of the narrow drain, they first tried lowering a bucket on a rope, hoping the lost little ducklings would jump in. But instead they scampered away.

Finally the officers were able to use a cat-transfer cage that was big enough that the ducklings couldn't avoid it. That did the trick and they were pulled out to the surface.

Officers said they believe the mother duck was in a nearby lake so the ducklings will be released in that area for what they hope will be a happy family reunion.

The rescue was a bit of deja vu for the Riverside agency, which also rescued several ducklings from a Palm Desert storm drain earlier this week.