CLINTON -- The giant inflatable yellow rubber ducky that was reported missing by the Clinton Guild a week ago has been recovered.

Police from Franklin Township found the duck Monday morning at a county park off Sidney Road in that township.

"The Rubber Ducky had been deflated and was stuffed into a large black plastic garbage bag," Clinton Police said in a release about the recovery. "Initially Franklin Township Police believed they were investigating illegal garbage dumping in the park."

The duck was reported missing on July 18, the morning after the Clinton Sunrise Rotary's Great Rubber Ducky Race. It was brought back to Clinton Police headquarters by Patrolman Alberto Bonilla for storage, awaiting release to the Clinton Guild, which owns the duck.

This year was the large duck's first appearance at the annual race. It was donated to the guild by several of its members, and sat on the patio of the Hunterdon Art Museum the week before the race. Members of the Clinton First Aid and Rescue Squad anchored it in the river on race day.

The duck was last seen in the water around 10 p.m. Sunday, July 21, said Clinton Guild President Diane Crisman-Race said. "We've pinned it down to after 10 p.m. and before 8:20 a.m. Monday," she said. "Sometime during that time period the duck went missing."

Crime Stoppers of Hunterdon County offered a $250 reward for information about the duck's disappearance.

Crisman-Race said rescue squad members had anchored the duck securely, so it was unlikely to have floated away. It also seemed unlikely the duck deflated in place, she said. "We went to the top of the art museum and looked into the river. The water's clear enough to see through, and it's not there."

Guild members feared the duck was taken, she said Wednesday. "There's a good section of that river you can get to pretty easily. It's pretty walkable."

Sallie Graziano may be reached at sgraziano@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SallieGraziano. Find NJ.com on Facebook.