Tuesday morning, October 6, staff walked into the rehabilitation center to receive a voicemail message from a Lake Co. Sherriff stating that a Lake Co. resident had found a baby beaver in their garage. Generally, American Beavers produce young between April-June but because it's 2020, we won't doubt anything. When staff reached out to the property owners it was determined that it was in fact a Beaver and not a Muskrat, but its age was yet to be determined. Within a matter of a few short hours the young Beaver was admitted to HIW where it was determined to be between 2-3 weeks of age. At just 2.5 lbs, this youngster was admitted covered in burrs, with a mouth full of mud, and extremely lethargic.

Beavers are one of the species that we strive to get back with their parents due to their social structure and family bond. Staying with their families for up to two years, young Beaver are often accidently kidnapped when seen out of the den. When speaking to the homeowners, they were unaware that Beaver were even near their property and were not able to locate a den. Due to the baby's condition, it is apparent that it has been without care for some time. Generally not leaving the den for at least the first 2 months of age, this baby should certainly not be so far away from the den site.

Beaver have incredibly close family groups, with kits remaining with not only parents, but older siblings, until they are old enough to be on their own. Adult Beavers are monogamous, mating for life, unless one of the partners is killed or dies due to illness. Each year, Beavers can produce between 1-4 kits per year and can even live in groups of up to 18!

Your contributions help HIW to care for native wildlife, like this young Beaver, by providing life saving formulas and medical care. Thanks to the good we do together, these animals, young or old, are given another chance at a wild life.