A University of Colorado fraternity is getting its newest pledges back.

Three ducklings rescued by CU fraternity members who were hiking up at Chautauqua will likely go back to the students after police determined the ducks were actually abandoned pets.

University of Colorado police originally confiscated the three ducklings Tuesday after three of the students held a pie-throwing fundraiser on campus to try and raise money for the baby birds.

CU police spokesman Scott Pribble said an officer found three students trying to raise money by allowing people to throw pies at their faces in exchange for cash.

March 14 is observed by some as National Pi Day.

“They were over at Norlin Quad doing a fundraiser to buy a proper shelter for their new pets,” Pribble said.

Pribble said police were not sure if the students actually raised any funds before police shut down their pie-throwing operation.

Police, thinking the ducklings were wild, decided that they were better off in a wildlife center than with college students and confiscated the animals, though the students were not issued any tickets.

But when Boulder police animal control Officer Taylor Barnes came to pick up the ducklings, he realized that they were not wild and were likely abandoned pets. The ducklings’ former owners have a week to claim them, but Barnes said he doubts that will happen.

“To be quite honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if they were dropped there (at Chautauqua),” Barnes said. “Unfortunately someone decided they didn’t want them.”

In consulting with the Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Barnes said he discovered local stores often begin to sell ducklings and chicks before Easter and that the baby animals often wind up being abandoned.

“That was kind of a bummer to hear that,” Barnes said.

But Barnes said that he went over to the fraternity to inspect the ducklings’ living situation and said if they aren’t claimed in a week, he was comfortable giving leaving them with the fraternity.

“I’m actually pretty happy with what they’re trying to do,” Barnes said. “They’re all pretty bonded. In fact, when one of the guys took one out of the box, he said, ‘Come to momma.'”

Barnes said the ducklings are only about three to four weeks old, and said he told the fraternity they will likely have to give them up when they get bigger. Barnes said he gave them a few recommendations.

“We’ll keep our tabs on them and see what they need and help out where we can,” Barnes said. “But at least for now, I think they’re doing a pretty stellar job.”

Mitchell Byars: 303-473-1329, byarsm@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/mitchellbyars