Ducks Crossing 5 Freeway Slows Traffic Near Griffith Park

This story was written by City News Service

What has become annual duckling crossing chaos reappeared on the Golden State (5) Freeway near Griffith Park today.

Traffic on the busy freeway ground to a near halt as one or more momma ducks tried to get their brood safely across the 10-lane freeway, towards the adjacent Los Angeles River.

California Highway Patrol officers reported cars were stopped on the southbound freeway at Fletcher Drive, as some motorists stopped for the ducks.

One woman called 911 to report that her husband had parked his car in the center median, shooed the ducks out of the southbound freeway lanes, and then was walking off a freeway ramp on the right side.

The wife reported she was stuck in the parked car on the median, the husband had the keys in his pocket, the ducks had scattered, and the Highway Patrol was needed to ferry the keys out to the center median so the woman could drive off, CHP logs showed.

In years past, similar duck migrations have caused fender-benders and slow traffic on a freeway with at least some animal lovers on it.