It didn't take rocket science -- or computer science -- to rescue seven baby ducks that fell through a sewer grate on the Carnegie Mellon University campus Monday night.

	Shu Uesugi photo A mother duck and her brood nonchalantly walk away from a narrow escape after several fell through a grate into a sewer. Students cheered CMU police officers and security guards who fished them out. Click photo for larger image.

It did take ingenuity and a lot of patience on the part of two campus police officers and three security guards who spent 90 minutes rolling in the mud to reunite the mallard ducklings with their mother.

A Carnegie Mellon student alerted officials to the problem at 9:30 p.m.

When an adult mallard and 12 very small yellow and black ducklings walked across a sewer grate, seven fell in. Campus police and security officers removed the metal grate, but could not reach the ducklings, that were 10 feet below ground level.

Campus officers devised a low-tech solution that included a bucket and long piece of rope. That part was easy. The hard part was getting the ducklings into the bucket.

About 10 students and the visibly agitated mother mallard watched as officers lowered the bucket, tipped it onto its side and waited for ducklings to step in, one at a time.

One by one the ducks were lifted to safety.

"Some went into the bucket easier than others," said Carnegie Mellon police Lt. John Race. "That's why it took 90 minutes.

"It rained part of the time, too, so officers were rolling around in the mud. The mother duck was not happy and had to be kept away from the rescuers. The last duckling really did not want to step into the bucket."

That's when student onlookers were treated to the sight of five uniformed adults "making duck noises, trying to coax the last duckling into the bucket," Lt. Race said.

Officers carried the 12 ducklings to a pond in nearby Schenley Park. The mother duck followed them.

"The officers were happy to help, and everyone is happy with the outcome," Lt. Race said, but staff and students are hoping the ducks don't make another attempt to cross the grate.

"We've never seen them on campus before. We don't know where they came from," he said.

At about 8:30 p.m. Monday, a passing motorist flagged down a university police officer to report that a duck and a flock of ducklings were walking on Beeler Street. The motorist feared they would be hit by a car.

Campus police looked, but at that time were unable to find the ducks.

About an hour later they got the call about ducklings falling through the sewer grate, which is near the University Center, between Forbes Avenue and Margaret Morrison Street.

Involved in the rescue were campus police Officers Chad Brogley and Sue Prevusnik and security guards Heather Ausburn, James Togyer and Andrew Loveridge.