Pack, the duckling, found safe

Why a duck? Why-a no Swan?

"The vandalism sparked outage"? Funny, I didn't see any lights go out ...

Thank goodness for Officer Michael and Clancy down at headquarters!

Something needs to be done about this statue. It is a cash cow for the sculptor, who is paid thousands of dollars every time one of the ducklings is broken or stolen. It needs a more secure base to keep these thefts from happening. Seems like every year something happens to it and the sculptor just keeps getting paid big bucks for a simple recast from one from his original molds.

I am very pleased to hear that Pack was found and returned. Let's hope this is the last of this type of despicable act.

A prime example of something the NY Times doesn't care to appreciate and could never replace -- the bond of regional traditions and culture that's shared between the Globe and New Englanders.

I have to say, this brightened my gloomy Tuesday morning. I'm glad Pack was found safe and I hope that they find who took him.

People really disappoint me. What is this world coming to? Does anybody have respect for anything anymore?

Interesting that the pilfered fowl are always located in proximity to the State House. So, State legislators-when their not picking our pockets-are they stealing our ducks? I suspect if we searched the State House today we would find the missing Quack from 1992 and some additional quacks, as well!

True Faith--get a brain, will you? Do you know how much bronze costs? Do you really think that this sculptor is rubbing her hands with glee every time some idiotic college kid makes off with a bronze duckling? God knows we should be grateful that she's created the most loved sculpture in Boston. My daughter's first word was "duck" because of those little guys!

I'm glad Pack was found. Can't a safety camera or tracking device be installed?

I propose we wire up the ducklings so that after, say, 7PM until 7AM, high voltage current is sent through them.
a) no kids would be sitting on them after 7
b) we could save some ducklings
c) ... er . .. something else?

Great writing, funny story, and I agree with the NY Times comment.

To the person who took the duck, all I have to say to you is "DUCK YOU!"

Gee I could not sleep over this terrible act of terrorism...thank God duckie is safie...

Welcome back,Pack.Springtime in the Garden would not be the same with out you.

I betcha the sculpture is behind the thefts.

He benefits the most everytime one is stolen

Seems like there must be a better & cheaper way, with all the easy camera equipment available nowadays - & this is a well-lighted area at the edge of the park, not really an isolated spot.

How's this for an idea? A security camera in a tree, watching the little family, since this is a recurring thing? It would be far cheaper than replacing them on a regular basis. Duh...

A security camera should be installed in a discreet location.

How about investing in a security camera. I'm sure it can be done for under $8000.

What TrueFaith said. Why can't the existing Pack get new feet?

College kids- assess a tax on all schools in boston every time there's vandalism

I'm so tired of what this world is leading to, I'm tired of the destruction of art work, cemetary grave markers all the ugly graffitti that appears throughout the city and elsewhere. Others must see these things going on yet chose not to report it or turn a blind eye. Let's get all this nonsense stopped so our children and grand children and all generations beyond can enjoy the good things the now and former generations have created for all to enjoy.

TrueFaith, those sculptures are solid bronze mounted in cement. I'm not sure what you think could be done to make the base more secure. I suppose the city could increase police presence around the ducklings, but that's significantly more expensive than $10,000 (about 1.6 cents per Bostonian) every 4 years, which is about how often the ducks get stolen.

Also, the sculptor, Nancy Schon, clearly shown in the second picture accompanying the story, is a woman.

Slow news day? I don't really see how this is news. As a taxpayer I am Outraged that it's going to cost between $8 and 10K to replace a little bronze duck. They should just weld Pack(Yeah, A stupid name at that) back onto where it belongs.

Mrs. Schon is a sweetheart for making another Pack. I am a big fan of her, she is classy as they come. $10K is actually inexpensive, she must be giving the City of Boston a 'friends and family' discount. Thank you, Mrs. Schon!

Copenhagen, Denmark has a similar problem with the statue of the little mermaid. She has been severely damaged several times now. There are nasty people all over the world.

I am handicap & wheelchair bound and the only place for me to find peace pray and deal with my depression and illness is to go to the pond and have fun with my grandkids and the ducks believe me they new me as soon they see the chair they would run and greet me most folks are not that friendly to the disabled then i heard on the news that someone stole a kid w/chair now this now I'm scared to go back to the pond because my chair cost a lot if they can steal a statue they could very well hurt or kill you and steal your chair the live ducks as...

I think Al-Qaeda is behind this. Where's Homeland security when you need them....Funny stuff, what do you expect in a college town?

Chaos, Sculpture is the object. Sculptor is the person.

Chaos and True Faith - the SCULPTOR is a woman.

Not Interested - So art and the cultural landscape and history are things that do not matter to you, aye? Good? You don't matter to me.

Prime example of why newspapers are dying right here.

Securly attach Pack to the ground with super glue...$3
Wire Pack with internal GPS device for tracking...$325
Install security cameras in two secure areas....$995
3 security staff members to monitor the cameras 7 by 24.....$150,000 per year
8 security staff cronies hired by Deval to replace non-union monitors to watch the cameras......$1,475,000 per year
Obama stimulus money for the State of Mass....wasted

Hey Not Interested ...

What gives? Of course its news -- LOCAL news. The McCloskey duck statutes are a Boston icon! I think you may not be familiar with the origins of this duck statute series - this isn't some random piece of art (nor are the names of the little ducklings arbitrary). And, while we're at it -- the story said "It appears Pack can be reattached to his place seventh in line behind his mother". So, no $8K cost this time,

What would you say if someone stole the Liberty Bell from Philadelphia? These little ducks are like that -- only rather than being a national treasure, they are a Boston treasure. Quack!

WHere is the CCTV? This sculpture needs to have a camera on it.

haha-- sucks to be the artist. She thought she had another gig for $10,000. I'll bet she's behind it.

TrueFaith, I don't know that you could find or create "a more secure base" than the earth.

The problem is not the base. The problem is that ducklings legs aren't very thick. You can't do much about that.

It's a good thing Pack had that insurance.

What insurance is that? (AFLAC!)

You know, that supplemental insurance where if you get hurt and miss work, they take care of you.

?? (AFLAAAAAAAAAAAC!)

Love it or hate it, stealing the ducklings is now a time honored Boston tradition. I love this city!

Not Interested get a grip will you, people are interested and they are welding him back on not replacing him, try reading the article before you comment. Better yet if you are not interested don't read it and don't comment on it.

Say the secret woid and...

by the way, it's not in a park, per se, it's in the Public Garden.

wonder if Curley's desk will turn up too...

"The bird appears to have been sheered off its perch . . ."

It annoys me that professional journalists, who are paid because they're supposed to know to write, don't know the difference between sheered (which the statue was not) and sheared (which it was).

To Not Interested...You're a fool apparently you don't understand the meaning of these little ducks...be sure to think before you post your nonsense!

"...Pack(Yeah, A stupid name at that)..." And you win the supid post of the day prize Not Interested

The Obama administration found out that Pack voted for McCain in the last election, and rescinded his appointment to the Fish and Wildlife Service. I hear that the Heritage Foundation is considering taking him on.

Has anyone actually read the story? They original Pack can be reattached. The story said, and I quote, "Police INITIALLY THOUGHT that Schon was going to have to make a new Pack, which would have cost an estimated $8,000 to $10,000." (emphasis mine).

Initially thought. Meaning that they no longer think that because, as it says in the story, "It appears Pack can be reattached to his place seventh in line behind his mother."

Set up a web cam, so everyone can keep an eye on them!!!!!!

This is avian bias. Why aren't there piglets in that parade? Calves? Gay chickens?

This is just another example of bias and discrimination in Boston.

What kid for the past 20 years hasn't sat on Mrs Mallard and have his/her picture taken? It's a ritual of youth and springtime when visiting Boston.
My small niece is coming from Florida just to see this sculpture because she's so enthralled with the book about the ducks and Swan boats.
Kudos to the 4 friends who found Mack and returned him.
A great ending to this story!

Lets make this a secure site. First put cameras up. Next attach the ducks to hand grendes. If some one pulls up a duck KA-BOOM and that is that but the duck will be OK since it is hard and the former theft was soft.

Then we will know what the person looked like before the KA-BOOM and can send a post card to their family while the Parks Dept. mops up.

Trust me I ma from Boston. I know this works. It did with my Motor cycle

Why not be glad that those responsible for removing Pack either had a change in heart of did it as a prank and left him to be found by passers-by?

Hey "Not Interested" - in case you didn't read the story, they ARE putting Pack back into the sculpture. The whole point is that he's been FOUND and won't have to be replaced.

"Chaos" and "TrueFaith" - seriously?!?!? The sculptor is not stealing her own art. Get a life.

Such a dirt bag trashy thing to do. This is our city. WHatever h appened to having pride in your own city? Makes us look like project people. In France during WWII, the germans invaded and the French removed the stainedglass windows of the churches (hand blown and hand colored glass) and they each took home a piece. After the war, how many of the pieces came back to reform the windows??? ALL of them. NO ONE kept a single piece. THAT is a classy group of people. I am glad the duckling is back. I am heartily dissapointed someone finds theft of art to be a form of entertainment. It's not. It's trashy.

I think the IRA are behind this? Is this duck British, they do show a remarkable resemblance to the British Royal family,.

Poofy writing. EEK! An important story ... and the video, oh my.

Seriously, let's install some security cameras...it's ridiculous that this keeps happening.

To those who are "disappointed" by this act ...Global warming should disappoint you, the lack of affordable health care should disappoint you, the current financial crisis should disappoint you....

This random act of vandalism should even be a blip on your radar. The fact that it is ...is in itself "disappointing".

Get a life.

who goes out for a "morning snack" at 2:40am?

The sculptor takes no pleasure or profit whatsoever in seeing her work vandalized and having to replace it.

It appears Boston is once again falling behind in reading comprehension. The article clearly states that is looks like the ducking can be reattached. Police INITIALLY thought a new one would have to be made.

If you are going to grump about a light hearted story, at least get the facts straight! As a true Bostoner I love the ducks, the story, and their place in the garden. This story simply makes me smile....aren't you all tired of terrorism, earthquakes, shootings, etc??? Lighten up!!! This is fun! Not all news has to be doom and gloom..

And Pack was found exactly where?

Don't these ducks get stolen every year? I tell yea this is about advertising!

You need to read the article more closely. It states "It appears Pack can be reattached to his place seventh in line behind his mother, Hines said. Police initially thought that Schon was going to have to make a new Pack, which would have cost an estimated $8,000 to $10,000. "

So the duck can be welded back into place and therefore will not cost between $8 -10k

They Should have GPS or some type of tracking device in them! Just as they put in little baby Jesus' around the country for this christmas.

Its the only way to get to the person and get back the stolen goods.

finally some real news!

QUACK, I mean, QUICK! STOP THE PRESSES---- A public statue has re-appeared!

New Englanders are really small-minded to consider this such a big issue. And for the record, I do not condone the vandalism or destruction of public art. The Globe should report more relevant issues if it hopes to continue operations into the future... no wonder readers are leaving.

this is an inanimate object...correct??? You'd think someone kidnapped a child or something...

8k -10k to replace a sculptured duck??? While children go hungry in this cultured city??? What a shame.

Not Interested.....or just interested enough to make an inane comment. Sculptures in the Public Garden are financed, insured, etc by the Friends of the Public Garden, a non-profit group no taxpayer money is used. It's all private donations.

Put a lo-Jack type device on each of them - then for once, not only would they return, you'd also get an arrest for the first time.

I have to agree that only in Boston would such an event get such coverage--something the NY Times could never understand. Welcome home, Pack!

I am ridiculously happy that little Pack is back. And I thought I was a grown-up...

Kudos to #25 Colleen for pointing out to two people that the sculptor is a women.

#12 HubbDave; you can stay but your idea has to go. No. 1, kids do sit on the ducks after 7p.m., particularly in summer; No. 2, it would be easy to insulate a electrified duck so as to remove it; No. 3, people with fragile cardiac conditions could touch a hot duck and get flipped into ventricular tachycardia or another lethal arrhythmia; No. 4. What would happen when it rained? High current spreading out through soaked ground wouldn't be amusing.

The hidden camera is a good idea.

Not Interested - if you really don't care that much, don't read the story. Apparently you do, since you took the time to post a comment. And criticizing the names of ducklings in a children's book? Wow, you must be a really fun person to be around.

Ah - who gives a duck?

Can't they just set up a webcam or security camera and start arresting people when they pull this junk?

"...and the sculptor just keeps getting paid big bucks for a simple recast from one from his original molds."

Um "his" name is: Nancy Schon by the way, and her cost of bronze, ancillary materials and the energy to heat it, not to mention cost of labor, isn't exactly free.

At least Pack's back.

If I were still living in Bean Town, I couldn't have born to walk past a broken family every morning. Not after the nice policemen did so much to get them safely there from the river.

Its nice to know that there are some descent people still out there!

"To those who are "disappointed" by this act ...Global warming should disappoint you, the lack of affordable health care should disappoint you, the current financial crisis should disappoint you...."

No one is saying this other stuff doesn't matter... Who said that? Stop being such a Debbie Downer... SSSSOORRRRRRYYYYYYYYYYY there is a story that involves something not as serious... You sound like a lovely person to be around.

Wow! To all the angry, petty, cynical posters who try to implicate the sculptor in the disappearance of Pack, go look in the mirror. That crank looking back at you used to be a child at one time. He or she might even have read Make Way for Ducklings. No, wait a minute, if that were true they would get the meaning of this story to area folks.
And to all the out of area nitwits who don't see the news value in the story, look around your own community and think about which local icon you might be heartbroken to loose.
Also the sanctimonious drivel about poverty and hunger and oh so many other important issues taking precedence over this human interest tale is offered up to allow the writers to feel smug and self-righteous. As if there is nothing in their own life that wouldn't hurt them if it were stolen.
One thing has nothing to do with the other. Honestly, if angels came down and gave everyone a million dollars each, there would be hoards of people posting complaints about something.
Constructive criticism is always in order. Ranting and carping and crabbing and cheap shots are a waste of time.

I suppose I lack the Disgruntled Overreacting Northeastern Gene or something...but really. Why is everyone so quick to assume Pack was the victim of malicious intent? If that were the case, Pack wouldn't have been found so easily, or would have been abused, or not found at all.

It looks like somebody gave Pack a little vacation on Beacon Hill. Lil quacker got sick of being anchored to one place, got a trip to the corridors of power (where the mass din of quacking politicians surely would have drawn a duckling's attention), and a kind soul reunited Pack with the family. A lovely extension of the adventures of a worldwide-beloved duck family frozen in bronze and certainly bored to tears.

Kitsap Kate
Poulsbo, WA

A prank? A crime? A college student involved? Who knows. But too many college "pranks" are truly criminal. And too few are ever caught thus leaving perpetrators with decades of chuckles in recalling their youthful "fun".

I recall the "fun" too. I was subject to attempted kidnapping and criminal assault (just a "prank" by the way) during my college years long ago. It soured me forever on the jolly fellows (pampered then and now extremely wealthy) of my Ivy alma mater.

Humph. I view the whole McCloskey/ducklings phenomenon as yet another sign of Boston's hostility to the Irish, and the Irish internalization of it -- self-loathing played out in the Boston Garden. And what better place for it????

Surely I am not the only one who is irritated by the stereotype of the cop in the ducklings book. When I used to read it to my kids, I always used a Polish or Italian or WASP name instead. And I would feel much better. Much.

Perhaps we should revive Amos 'n Andy, or Sacco and Vanzetti, or any of the
ethnic japeries of the past, and let go of the ducklings.

Glad Mrs. Mallards stone duck baby is back!

We can find stone ducks as a priority but we cant find missing children who turn up dead in suitcases. Now I understand why, everyone was out searching for the missing stone duck.

I saw the sculpture in october '07 on a sightseeing tour of Boston (thanks John) and was completely captivated by the duck,her ducklings and the story . I bought the book back to England --which is why a class of 5-6 year olds in a school in Middlesbrough know a little bit about your culture and one of your great children's authors and are very relieved at the return of Pack!

My favorite line: "It does not appear that Officer Michael from the children's book was involved in the rescue." Would be nice to imagine that he was though!

Put LO-Jacks on the little quacks

It's obvious those ducks don't belong there if people care about them. This is why they're not a "treasure" like the Liberty Bell. No one would mess with the Liberty Bell for a reason. Video surveillance? How is that going to help when it's night and the perpetrator is wearing a hood? You can pay for the camera and worry yourselves sick over this infantile prank. I hope people have better things to do during a recession.

This is a situation where the "crime cam", otherwise de-cried by paranoid Boston liberals as "an invasion of privacy" (where no privacy exists), is essential. The theft of bronze plaques and sculptures always reaches a peak when economic times are bad and the price of bronze makes it worth the low risk. The police need to make a very obvious act to raise the risk of getting caught.

"It's" back? "It's??" Come on, fellas, these are Boston's ducklings we're talking about. Even if you're not sure of the gender, at least have the decency to refer to them with personal pronouns.

I'm happy Pack will soone be back in line. "Make Way for Ducklings" was read to me as a child, and when we went to Town on the Trolley to the Public Garden for a Swan Boat ride, we would visit the intersection where it supposedly took place. When this sculpture was installed, I thought that it stole away some of my imagination, but as I watched children who know the story come upon and recognize "the Ducklings" and then frolic among them, I accept that a new tradition has taken the place of the old.

Ironic ... the mallards had searched all over for a safe place to raise their ducklings, and that is where they settled. Has the neighborhood changed, or did Mr. Mallard just not do a thorough enough check of the neighborhood?

Finally ... some good news :-)

The thieves should see the joy in kids faces when they visit these ducks--if they they would not do such a selfish thing as steam public art (meant specially for kids!!!)

I think it's whack that someone would jack Pack. Lack of morals. Put him on the Rack.

Welcome back, Pack. Glad the thieves had a snack. No need for a counter attack, obviously the thief was a hack. So sorry your sculpture has a crack. Time to talk smack! Obviously the thief is a rat. Send him down the street to get a Big Mack! Otherwise he might have a Mac Attack, which could lead to another lost Pack. Hey - maybe the Globe writer of this story is just a hack!

OK the quality of this poem is actually better than most of the stories in the Globe No wonder the Globe is losing money.

I am so glad people are outraged by them stealing it, yet allow cop killers in Oakland look like a hero, and also people with records of rape and murder need to get a break..yah our tax dollars at work. I am so glad people are outraged

So, four college kids are sitting around in their apartment drinking. One says 'hey, look what I got the other night!' And he pulls out Pack. 'Oh, no! We gotta return it, dude!' And so our 'heroes' cover their asses in the wee hours of the morning hoping that no one will suspect them. Cool!

Only pedifiles, terrorists and Yankee fans would harm such a piece of art.

If Menino was doing his job none of this would of ever happened.

It is great that Pack is Back !!!

Love the video! Poor Pack's lil' webbed feet. That must have hurt! And Ms. Schon is not a sculptor.... she's a sculptress! This article is just plain fun.

With inexpensive pin hole camera or surveillance camera so easy to install, why can the park install one. They could even put a fake one up there just to deter those moron college kids

Quack Quack

Okay. I would just like to say I think there definitely needs to be action taken so this can stop happening. Installing a simple security camera can't be too much right?! I mean this is a work of art and should be perserved as much as possible.