Thirsk duck wardens video viral on TikTok and Facebook

Residents in Thirsk have been taking it in shifts as wardens to protect a flock of around 30 ducks, who have been making nightly trips from the river to the town centre.

Dubbed 'Duck Wardens', people in Thirsk have been volunteering their time from about 8.30pm each evening to ensure that the ducks are safe. 

The ducks in Thirsk Market Place (Image: JODIE WOOD/THIRSK DUCKS) Using several traffic cones and some plastic tape, the wardens have managed to cordon off the section of Market Square car park in Thirsk where the ducks have come to settle. 

After the group has taken social media by storm, which has seen its Facebook group get over 2500 members in six weeks, a video on TikTok has now gone global after online users from America shared it, and it has since had nearly three million views. 

Alongside the videos, Thirsk Ducks have amassed fans from the Netherlands, Spain, France, America and other parts of the world. 

The group was set up by Thirsk resident Jodie Wood, who noticed that the ducks had migrated from the river at night, potentially because of other animals now moving into their 'spot'.

While the duck group is separate from the council and is about the community coming together to protect the animals, Jodie and the volunteers have asked the council for official signage to help them continue their work. 

Jodie now wants to spread awareness of the issue and help others understand the role they can play in keeping the ducks safe, including slowing down when driving through Thirsk.

A close-up of the ducks (Image: LINSEY PAYNE/THIRSK DUCKS) As well as the viral videos and the Facebook page, it's unsurprising that BBC Radio One DJ Greg James has got involved with it. 

Featuring on Greg James' BBC Radio 1 Breakfast show at the start of September, the radio presenter went through the story, telling listeners about the work of the 'Thirsk Ducks' group, before going through the sad news that four ducks had been killed. 

Speaking on the radio, Greg said: "There was no warning at all - the story was about ducks and then there was nothing to suggest ducks would die in this story."

The host then commented that he'd probably "ruined everyone's morning" by talking about the death of ducks. 

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Greg James then got behind the duck campaign, before saying that "any supporters are welcome" and jokingly calling for a "duck cycle lane" or "freedom of the whole of Thirsk".

While many listeners got involved, saying that Greg had either "ruined their morning" or talked about duck deaths, others wanted to instantly help. 

This included Yorkshire cricketer Jonny Bairstow, who pledged to get involved and help the ducks in Thirsk - with many wondering if he would go through with his promise.