Published: April 06, 2009 09:59 pm      

'Make Way for Ducklings' statue swiped in Boston

BOSTON — The duckling's goose may be cooked.

A bronze duckling named Pack has been swiped from the beloved "Make Way for Ducklings" sculpture in Boston's Public Garden.

Police say Pack was snapped off at his webbed feet. The theft was discovered early Monday by a park ranger.

Pack is the next to last of the eight ducklings lined up behind Mrs. Mallard in the sculpture inspired by Robert McCloskey's children's book "Make Way for Ducklings," in which a family of ducks walks across a highway to get to the Garden.

But he's not the first to be stolen. Quack, Mack and Jack have gone missing over the years. All were recovered or replaced.

Mayor Thomas Menino wants to get all his ducks in a row. He denounces the fowl act as a crime, not a prank. He urges anyone with information to contact police.