Adorable baby beaver found abandoned on Calgary golf course - Action News
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Adorable baby beaver found abandoned on Calgary golf course

Wildlife conservationists in Calgary are scratching their heads wondering how a charming baby beaver found himself in a "really odd location," and what to do with the abandoned little guy.

'He's pretty typical for a baby beaver. They love their pool time'

Watch an adorable little beaver play in the pool as he grooms himself

8 years ago
Duration 0:39
The abandoned beaver kit was found June 27 on a Calgary-area golf course in a "really odd location" with an injured tail.

Wildlife conservationists in Calgaryare scratching their heads wondering how acharmingbaby beaver found himself in a "really odd location," and what to do with the abandonedlittle guy.

The furry critter was found all alone with an injured tailat the top of a hill, under a tree andwell away from the water on a Calgary-area golf course on June 27.

"Our suspicion isthat he was picked up by a predator and then dropped," said Holly Duvall, executive director of theAlberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation where the baby beaver now lives.

"It's not normal at this age for beaver kits to be separated from their parents. They're very bonded," Duvall said.

"Beavers have to have access to water, so he gets pool time several times a day," says Duvall. (Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation)

Duvall estimates that the beaver is between four and six weeks old. Tail injury aside, he seems to be adjusting well to his new surroundings.

"He's pretty typical for a baby beaver. They love their pool time," she said.

Several times aday, the little guy is taken out to the pool to drink, batheand answer nature's call.

"He loves to groom afterwards which is a great sign," Duvall said. "It's fantastic that we're seeing that with him."

As he's still a baby, he's eatingbeaver-specific formula supplemented with livewillow and poplar branches.

Looking for a family

This beaver is the only one of its kind at theAIWC care.

"We would like to see him raised with other beaver kits," she said, but added that her organization does not know of any centres in the province with those animals in their care.

The AIWC has reached out to potentialpartner organizations and says it's exploring all possibilities for the baby animal's long-term care.

"If all goes well,we anticipate that we'll have to have him in care for twoto threeyears," she said.

"For now, he's doing really well, and we're very happy about that."