Sometimes in New Jersey, you see strange things while walking down the street. Ducklings trapped in a Hackettstown storm drain might just be one of the most unusual, at least for that community.

Hackettstown police say they received a report Monday morning at around 10:43 a.m. that nine ducklings were trapped in a storm drain near the intersection of Route 46 and West Moore Street. When police arrived, they saw the tiny creatures peeking out from inside the drain, with the mother duck and two other ducklings nearby.

"It was determined that the ducklings were crossing West Moore Street and as some walked over the storm grate, nine ducklings fell into the drain," Hackettestown Police said in a statement Monday.

Officers requested the assistance of crews from the Department of Public Works. Together, the workers were able to safely rescue the tiny, brown ducklings from the storm sewer, placing them in a yellow box until every one was present and accounted for. But the story doesn't end there.

Shortly after the ducklings and the mother duck were reunited, police say one wayward duckling wandered off and fell into another storm sewer, prompting yet another rescue by officers and DPW workers.

Following the rescue, the ducklings and the mother duck were released.

"We escorted them to a stream behind the trinity United Methodist Church," Sgt. Darren Tynan said.

Authorities say the ducklings all appeared to be unharmed.

Toniann Antonelli is a social content producer for NJ 101.5. She can be reached at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.

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