A duck who was rescued when he was just a little duckling stayed by the side of the human rescuer who saved his life.
Steven Thibeault from Nahant, Massachusetts saw Cheerio the duck struggling to survive all by himself in the pool of the apartment complex he manages.
Unfortunately, Steven wasn’t able to reunite the Cheerio with his mother and instantly realized the duckling wouldn’t be able to fend for himself. It was at this point he brought the Cheerio into the care of his own home, and the two became friends.
Initially, Steven planned on releasing Cheerio back into the wild. However, after a few years, Cheerio has always returned to Steven at the end of a long day of adventures.
When Steven goes out to work in the morning, Cheerio also heads out into the outdoors, spending his day flying around, swimming in the ocean, and playing with his duck friends.
Once the day is over, Cheerio will head back to Steven’s home, which he also shares with a ‘cat sister’ named Reeses. The unlikely pair are said to get on well, and sociable Cheerio also enjoys playing with a dog that belongs to Steven’s parents.
“He is pretty much on my schedule so we come to work, he spends most of the day outside and after work we go home,” Steven said in The Dodo.
“He does have a social life, he has spent time with other ducks which makes me happy, but at the end of the day he chooses me. That could change one day but that’s up to him.”
Cheerio became like a local celebrity, with those living in Steven’s complex spoiling him with attention and treats. With his growing human fanbase, Cheerio also has lots of feathered friends and spends plenty of time out on the water.
“He gets along great with other ducks, especially males. He is a little shy when it comes to the ladies at this point in his life but hopefully, that will change.” Steven added. “He also hangs out with other duck and geese species like eider ducks, mallards and brant geese who spend their winters here in Nahant. He also has a few seagull buddies too.”
Cheerio is free to do what he pleases, but it seems like he simply loves his adoptive father way too much to venture back into the wild. It does seem like Cheerio has a pretty good life as things stand.