But that’s exactly what Dunedin firefighters found themselves doing yesterday morning, after they were called out to rescue a paradise duck from a Clyde St flat.
Willowbank station officer Pete Hessian said crews were called by the University of Otago Campus Watch about a duck stuck in an air vent on the roof of the university-owned flat.
The duck’s mate had stayed resolutely by its side on the roof overnight.
In order to access the vent, firefighters used the city’s aerial appliance to reach the roof.
But instead of a trapped duck, they found it was nesting inside the vent.
‘‘It’s not stuck at all, so all’s happy,’’ Mr Hessian said.
A university spokeswoman said the university would continue to monitor the situation.
There had been an increase in animal rescue callouts to trapped ducks in recent weeks, as ducklings found themselves stuck in places they should not be.
Yesterday firefighters were called to Hillary St, Liberton, at 2.40pm to rescue a duckling from a drain.
And on Thursday Willowbank firefighters were called to Dover St, in Pine Hill, after eight ducklings were found trapped in a drain.
All of the ducklings were safely reunited with their mum.
