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| A "ducked" Jeep wrangler (Source: Bourdan) |
Today’s blog post was inspired by the curiosity of this blog writer as they were wandering their local community and observed a pattern of behavior that they had not previously seen. This was the number of rubber ducks on the dashboards of various Jeep Wranglers. Jeep Wrangler and Jeep owners in general share a sense of identity and camaraderie, often participating in clubs and events to celebrate their shared passion for their Jeep vehicles. While not a member of this group it is one familiar to this author through the friendships they have had with individuals who are either part of or are familiar with these clubs. Despite this familiarity the rubber ducks were something new and intriguing, leading them to explore further about where, how, and why this new trend began and continues.
The act of placing a duck on a random Jeep Wrangler is known as “Jeep Ducking” or “Duck Duck Jeep”. While it was not directly stated it appears that this latter phrase may be a play on the “Duck Duck Goose” game, wherein an individual will pick someone to be the “goose” and engage in a game of chase. This mimics someone “choosing” a Jeep to place a random duck on.
This trend, although I dare say tradition since it has become an institutionalized ritual among Jeep owners and enthusiasts, began in the summer of 2020. Allison Parliament, a resident of a small town in Ontario (Canada), had just experienced a negative situation. This inspired her to spread a little joy in the world despite all the negativity going on just then and around the world (as summer 2020 was a tumultuous time due to the Covid-19 pandemic and sociopolitical upheaval occurring across the globe). She took a yellow rubber duck and placed it on a Jeep Wrangler that reminded her of her own. The duck was accompanied by a short note meant to bring some positivity to the Jeep owner.
It is not quite clear how specifically this small act of kindness spread from Parliament’s first act, but it did spread very quickly as other Jeep owners followed suit by also placing rubber ducks on other people’s vehicles. This pattern of behavior may have occurred from Parliament discussing it online. She is also credited with coming up with the “rules” for placing a duck on another vehicle. These informal rules include suggestions on placing the duck and note on an obvious and external part of the vehicle, such as the hood, so the Jeep owner can easily see the duck and not miss it. Originally, it was suggested that yellow ducks being used as they were easily visible and could be customized, but as quickly as this tradition began so did the mass production of various types of rubber ducks that people can purchase. These can still be customized or purchased as is and left as gifts for other owners.
What started out as a small act of kindness has exploded into a global phenomenon. There are unsubstantiated stories all over the internet about how people of all ages engage in this activity, all of which are meant to be heartwarming and further spread joy to the readers. This tradition has also spread among not just Jeep owners but also Mini Cooper owners, who have a similar group mentality for their vehicles. It is said that Ed Smith, a Mini Cooper owner, appropriated this tradition for the Mini Cooper fan base. Ultimately, Jeep ducking shows how easily and quickly some actions can become ritualized and traditions in any given society or culture, as well as demonstrate the values of said groups.
Works Cited
Bourdon, Stuart. "What in the Duck Is Jeep Ducking?" Motortrend Magazine 4 March 2024. Electronic.
Jeep Gowan Auto. Jeep Ducking. 2026. Electronic. 8 June 2026.
Sleepy Hollow Auto Group. "What's Up With Jeep Ducks?" 24 February 2025. Sleepy Hallow Auto Group. Electronic. 8 June 2026.
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