Meet the Beaver!

Surprise! A little over a month ago, utilities workers in north-central Nebraska found a baby beaver that they thought had a broken leg! Poor thing. They picked her up and took her to the nearest veterinarian, which happened to be a spay-neuter clinic.  The veterinarian didn't have x-ray equipment on site, so she splinted the baby's leg and her assistant contacted us here at Nebraska Wildlife Rehab. A volunteer at the clinic transported the baby to Valentine, NE and cared for her overnight.  Then the next day, she drove the baby to meet Shelley, a Nebraska Wildlife volunteer from O'Neill.  Shelley took the baby back to O'Neill, where she met up with a couple more of our volunteers from Omaha, Susie and Dan.  They drove the baby all the way back to Omaha on the same day, a seven-hour trip in total, to make sure she received the medical attention and formula she needed!

On Saturday, April 24th, Dr. Keith Halsey at VCA Animal Medical Center x-rayed the little beaver's leg and determined that although it was sprained, it was not broken, and that it should heal without any intervention.  Nebraska Wildlife volunteers now have the long task of raising and rehabilitating this unique baby and returning her to the wild. 

Amy, this baby's primary caretaker, reports that she has been on formula for several weeks now, but is really beginning to eat solid foods.  She loves sweet potatoes and willow branches.  Her diet consists of several other foods as well, but those are her favorites!  

Since it has been such a long time since Nebraska Wildlife has had baby beavers, we no longer have an enclosure suitable for their rehabilitation and are in the process of a building a new, large enclosure, complete with a pool and "chew-proof" walls.  We couldn't do all of this work with our amazing animals if it wasn't for the support of our generous public-- so if you find your heartstrings tugged, please donate to our baby beaver's care and her new home today! We'll post pictures of her enclosure once it's built and keep you posted on her progress too!