Two injured beavers have become friends and may become life-long mates after meeting last summer at the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC) where they both were rehabilitated.
In June 2016, a baby female beaver was found on a golf course and wouldn’t have survived on her own. An adorable video of her falling over her tail in a pool went viral.
The young beaver was considered a long-term resident as she needed to be two years old before being released back into the wild. Beavers usually leave their parents at that age.
A year later, a 2-year-old male beaver was found in a storm drain with a deep wound on his lower back. He was taken to AIWC to heal.
Although the two beavers were in separate enclosures, they began to socialize through the fence dividing them.
Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC)
The two beavers tried touching paws and were obviously keen on meeting each other.
So AIWC decided to introduce the pair, but ensured that they would be supervised in case things went nasty.
Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC)
But they needn’t have worried. The two enjoyed swimming together.
Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC)
And eating together.
Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC)
Beavers who eat branches together, stick together.
Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC)
A few months later, the two beavers officially moved in together. The two continued to bond.
Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC)
And this spring (May 2018), it was time for the two to be released back into the wild.
They were released into the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area. The staff AIWC were anxious to see if the two beavers would stick together.
Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC)
“When they were released, we weren’t too sure, because he’s a year older than her, and sometimes older males will go and find a new mate or territory,” Holly Duvall, executive director of AIWC, told The Dodo. “So when we released them, there was the risk that he might want to move on right away.”
Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC)
Several weeks since their release they are still together, which is a great sign.
“They’re very busy, busy beavers,” Duvall said. “They’re actively making their own lodge … and they’re doing everything they should. They’re keeping themselves well-fed, [and] they’re hanging out together.”
As taking care of beavers is costly and time consuming, please consider making a donation to AIWC so they can care of more beavers like these two lovebirds in the future.
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