Ducklings Cross Wilshire Blvd at Chelsea, With a Little Help From Some Friends

Ducklings’ Daring Dash Across Wilshire Blvd Captivates Santa Monica

*By Clara Evans | Santa Monica Observer |

SANTA MONICA — A heartwarming yet tense wildlife drama unfolded on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Chelsea Avenue near Douglas Park, as a family of ducks attempted a perilous cross. Longtime resident Melanie Martin witnessed seven ducklings struggling to follow their mother across the busy road, thwarted by a high concrete median they couldn’t climb. “They ran back and forth, clearly determined,” Martin recounted, noting the ducklings’ eventual success in navigating around the island to reunite with their mom.

The commotion drew the attention of staff at the nearby VCA Santa Monica Main Street Animal Hospital, who stepped in to manage traffic and ensure the ducklings’ safety. At one point, the tiny flock took refuge under a car, highlighting their desperation not to lose sight of their mother. The VCA workers brought a box and captured some of the wild ducklings with their bare hands. Martin added a sobering note, pointing out the intersection’s history of fatal car accidents, including a hit-and-run incident on December 22, 2024, that claimed a pedestrian’s life, underscoring the area’s ongoing safety concerns.

Ducklings Cross Wilshire Blvd at Chelsea, With a Little Help From Some Friends

Miraculously, all seven ducklings made it across unscathed, earning cheers from onlookers. The event has sparked renewed calls for improved pedestrian and wildlife safety measures at this notorious crossing. The City of Santa Monica, which is already enhancing Wilshire Boulevard safety through its Wilshire Safety Study and a new traffic signal project at 16th Street set to begin February 3, 2025, may consider adding wildlife-friendly features. For now, the duck family’s survival serves as a rare bright spot in a challenging urban landscape.