GRAND HAVEN, Mich. — Pure white snow marks a new beginning. Such is the case for Sophia the duck, owned by a Grand Haven family.
“On her third birthday, her aunt and uncle decided to just drop off a couple of ducks in our house," said Lyndsey Fleser, gesturing to her 7-year-old daughter. "So we became animal people."
Lyndsey and her kids, Josie and 16-year-old Brayden, were surprised by new additions to the family, which Josie named Sophia and Evie.
"They were best of friends," said Lyndsey. "They were together all the time."
“They're pretty cute ducks," said Brayden.
But even more surprised by what came next.
“About two weeks ago, we only saw one for a couple days. My husband went and checked in the woods and we saw a big pile of feathers, so we knew we had an issue," said Lyndsey. "I'm thinking some sort of wildlife got to it.”
Just as it would for any human, grief came for Sophia. Evie was gone.
“The first couple days after the duck was lost, she was very vocal. We could hear her constantly at night. So I don’t know if that was crying, or what that was," said Lyndsey.
“I mean, they were together for like four years. So I think they had a pretty close bond," said Brayden, "It was a little sad and disheartening.”
But that feeling couldn’t last long. Sophia needed a companion for the season or it would take her next.
“When the temperatures got really cold, we knew that she would not survive," said Lyndsey.
It inspired a bit of matchmaking.
“We posted on Facebook to see if there was anybody would be willing… to let us adopt their duck," said Lyndsey.
Single female. Loves long walks by the pond. Bright orange feet. The usual.
But the post worked. Soon enough, Lyndsey was scrolling through hundreds of offers.
Sophia’s were the only prints in the freshly fallen snow that day. Until a new path crossed her way — in the form of the four webbed feet of Lucy and Goosey, proudly named once again by Josie.
“We were able to find somebody that had two ducks, they originally had four, and they lost two of them to wildlife," said Lyndsey. “They said, 'Please come get them.'”
Just as sure as snow in Michigan, a new beginning came for Sophia the duck.
“I think she's more happy," smiled Brayden as he held Sophia.
“I'm hoping there are new ones are a girl and a boy so they have baby ducks. So we can have more and more," laughed Josie.
Grand Haven’s most eligible quack-lorette found what she needed all along — a flock of her own.
“We have we might get more you never know," smiled Brayden. "We're kind of a duck family”
Cue the waddling off into the sunset.
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