Rescued Salem Duck Survives Arrow Shot Through His Beak: PHOTOS

SALEM, MA — A Salem duck is now breathing easier — quite literally — after concerned residents near a Witch City pond alerted Newhouse Wildlife Rescue when they noticed that one of their fine, feathered neighbors had an arrow through its beak.

Newhouse Wildlife said the neighbors often visited the duck in the pond, where he likes to spend his time, and were startled this week when they saw he had a crossbow bolt piercing his bill.

"The arrow entered through his left nostril and exited through the side of his beak," Newhouse Wildlife posted on social media. "Amazingly, despite the injury, he appears to be doing well."

Newhouse staff sprang into action, jumped into the water, and were able to capture the duck, then remove the arrow from the duckbill.

Staff said the duck's unusual coloring and larger size indicated he may have been the product of a domestic duck mating with a wild mallard.

"Wild or domestic, no animal deserves this kind of cruelty," Newhouse said. "We're grateful that, while one person chose to harm him, so many others chose compassion instead.

"They advocated for him, watched over him, and helped make sure he received the care he needed."

Newhouse's Steven Mark Salowsky provided Patch with these additional photos of the now-arrow-free duck:

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