Courtesy, St. Francis Wildlife Association
Earlier this month, Tallahassee’s St. Francis Wildlife Association was pleasantly surprised to find they were welcoming a curious and cuddly new critter to their refuge. An adult beaver of about 30-lbs. was found trapped in a storm water treatment facility and was safely rescued by some of the Association’s animal-loving staff. With back-up from the Tallahassee Fire Department, Animal Control, and a Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy, the rescue team was able to safely fetch the beaver by lifting him out with a long pole and net.
Tired and covered in acidic treatment water, the animal was swiftly transported to the wildlife hospital where it could be given a clean and effective Dawn soap bubble bath. Happy to be cleaned and treated for its injuries, videos of the beaver being washed by wildlife rehabilitators have gone viral as he is seen lathering his own belly and loving the newfound bubble bath treatment (see video below). Retiring under a heat lamp to dry off, the fluffy animal promptly took to enjoying a well-deserved nap.
St. Francis Wildlife’s brand-new patient is now in recovery and doing quite well, swimming outdoors in the refuge’s duck and goose habitat, taking naps, and eating an assortment of branches, bark, vegetation, fruits, and other vegetables. The beaver cannot be released back into the wild until its fur has completely regenerated the natural oils that protects animals from hypothermia. Within some weeks’ time, the fur will once again become water-resistant, and the beaver will be able to return safely to its natural habitat in Upper Lake Lafayette.
If you would like to learn more about this cute and fluffy fellow and the St. Francis Wildlife Association, please visit http://www.stfranciswildlife.org/About.html and consider donating to help.
See you on the trail,
Lisa
LMA Newsletter of 2-22-21
