BOSTON -- Mrs. Mallard's missing duckling has been found.

The wayward duck was found on Mount Vernon Street, but police have released few other details about his discovery. There was no word on any arrests.

"Pack," one of the ducklings in the iconic sculpture of a family of ducklings based on the well-known children's book "Make Way For Ducklings," was snatched from the Public Garden Monday morning.

Police recovered it sometime overnight, not far from where the garden sculpture is located, and returned it to the city parks and recreation department. Its webbed feet had been cut from the stone path where the statues normally stand.

Four college students called police about 2:30 a.m. to say they had found the statue at the intersection of Mount Vernon and Brimmer streets.

"I'm very happy to have him back. This is going to make our lives much easier. And Mother's Day is coming. The duck will be back for the parade," said Mary Hines of the Boston Parks and Recreation Department.

There was no word if police know who snatched the bronze sculpture. The thief could face larceny charges for the theft of public art.

"This sculpture has become such an important part of Boston and I just think whoever did it is so mean. I just think it's a mean, cruel thing to have done," sculptor Nancy Schon said.

The sculpture is based on a 1941 book about a pair of mallard ducks who decide to raise their eight little offspring on an island in the Public Garden lagoon. To get there, they have to make their way from the Charles River down Mount Vernon Street to the garden.

Author Robert McCloskey won a Caldecott Medal for the drawings in the book and it is also the official children's book of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Park rangers discovered the fowl play while on routine patrol in the park Monday. Pack was the second to last of Mrs. Mallard's eight bronze ducklings who reside at the corner of Beacon and Charles streets.

Pack's disappearance did not escape the sharp eyes of young tourists visiting the garden.

"They do notice that a duck is missing, or that one of the ducklings is missing. It's very sad and how do you explain that to a young child?" parent Alexa Gee said.

The theft outraged Boston Mayor Tom Menino. It would cost $8,000 to $10,000 to replace the statue.

"Not only are the Make Way for Ducklings loved by everyone, but they are public art," Menino said. "This act is not a prank, it is a crime."

The Make Way for Ducklings sculpture was created and installed by Schon in 1987.

Some of Pack's other bronze siblings have also been stolen over the years. Quack, Jack and Mack have also been nicked in the past, but all eventually made their way back to mother mallard.

Within a few days, Pack will be re-welded back into his spot behind mom.