Local ducks take a swim at the Fountain City Duck Pond during an arctic blast in Knoxville, Tenn., on Jan. 27, 2026.

A flock of ducks found open water in Duluth’s canal as ice floated on the surface of Lake Superior nearby. Photojournalist Kyle Aune captured their sticking together on another frigid Northland day.

Ducks swim in the remnants of the Budlong Pool, which was demolished over the winter but could not immediately be rebuilt due to the surprise discovery of an underground aqueduct..