By Mina Kerr-Lazenby, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter NORTH SHORE NEWS

YouB次元官网网址檝e heard the one about the dog eating the homework, but what about the one where the woman is late to work because sheB次元官网网址檚 spent the morning herding a family of ducks across West Vancouver?

Like a scene from a modern day Snow White, Sydney Boothroyd managed to herd a mother Mallard duck and her flock of 10 hatchlings from her home in Sentinel Hill to Ambleside Park B次元官网网址� more than an hourB次元官网网址檚 journey.

B次元官网网址淢y mom and I had been having a cup of coffee in the morning and we looked at our lawn, and we saw these ducks just circling the fence,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淭hey were obviously trapped, walking back and forth, back and forth. It was so sad.B次元官网网址�

Boothroyd phoned the Wildlife Rescue Association for advice, only to be told that the nearest water source was more than a kilometre away. The stray ducks would have to find their own way there, they explained, or, if Boothroyd was willing, she could try to lead them there herself.

B次元官网网址淚 tried to herd these ducks away from the fence, and they just literally started following me. I was like, `oh my God, what is going on?B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檓 walking down the sidewalk, there is this really busy thoroughfare ahead of me, and these little ducks are just trailing behind me,B次元官网网址� she said.

Boothroyd, with the enlisted help of mum Gillian, shepherded the waddling down 11th Street and across Marine Drive. The group navigated busy roads and train tracks and picked up a handful of extra helpers along the way B次元官网网址� one man crossing the road at Marine Drive stopped traffic in both directions for a B次元官网网址渟olid 10 minutesB次元官网网址� so the flock could cross, she said.

B次元官网网址淪ometimes the ducklings would fall off the curb because they had literally just been born and were so unsteady, so there were points where half the ducklings would be on the road and we would have to stop cars so they could make their way back up the sidewalk,B次元官网网址� she said.

Boothroyd said the event was a heartwarming example of how a motherB次元官网网址檚 love always prevails, and she was touched that she was able to lead the mother and her babies home alongside her own mom.

B次元官网网址淎s soon as we got near the water by Ambleside itB次元官网网址檚 like they knew where they were going, and they literally started running and jumped into the water and swam happily away,B次元官网网址� said Boothroyd.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 so in awe of that mom duck because I honestly think she knew where to go, she just needed some support. We were just ushering her along, but she did all the work. It was pretty amazing,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭here is something about it being a mom and daughter team helping to lead a mom and her baby ducklings home that feels so lovely.B次元官网网址�

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