The WRSOS was introduced to me a couple of years ago by way of a chance meeting between WRSOS President Jan Shadick and myself. We ran into each other while she was out bird watching and I myself was photographing birds.  Since that meeting I have been an active volunteer and supporter of both the group and the goals they are trying to achieve.

Jan called me a short time ago and told me of a rehab she had coming in, it was three baby Beavers. These young animals were orphaned not by nature but by man, and ended up in the care of Jan by way of the University of Saskatchewan Vet College. Jan asked me if I wanted to come photograph the beavers before they would be off to another care giver for future rehab. In my mind I was expecting to see these ugly, wet and dirty animals as I like many others have been jaded by the belief that these are nuisance animals that destroy trees and natural surroundings in areas they inhabit.

When I arrived at Jan’s there was a green plastic container on a table in her backyard and I knew what was inside. It was the young beavers and I realized at that moment they were alone, that their world of had been reduced to a green Tupperware tub on the top of someone’s table.  When Jan lifted the lid there was no unsightly, dirty animals but three cute and fluffy babies all huddled together. Jan had made up feeding bottles and fed all three with the help of Richard, another WRSOS member. After they had all fed we put them in the water pond in her yard.

As I watched them walk around the water I found myself in a deep thought about them. To them they were not a nuisance animal, they were three young beavers alone without their parents.  I think as a whole most of us have forgotten that nature has feelings and emotion. We call them instincts but I feel there is more to it than that.  Jan also had 5 coyote pups there she was rehabilitating and I was looking in on them as well. As I opened the door to the cage, they all came running to see me, very much like little puppies, all they wanted was food and to see what or who was there. They were so much more than just animals; they were in need and at that moment the only thing they knew was that the new person may be the one feeding them. It all adds up to care, that we care and we should. I believe that in doing these acts of kindness no matter how small it may seem, we get noticed. And if you are still and silent long enough you can experience the undomesticated animals in nature say thank you.

To learn more about the WRSOS click here to be taken to their web site.

By Jan Shadick.

The story begins when a local Saskatoon business planted trees along the edge of their property next to their slough.  Unfortunately a pair of beavers discovered this bountiful buffet and established residence.  The trees began to disappear . . .  rather rapidly.
The company arranged for a trapper to remove the beavers.  When live trapping was unsuccessful, the adult beavers were dispatched.   Sadly, they were parents.
Thankfully, the company checked the beaver den and found three balls of fur + teeth.  They called the WRSOS Wildlife Hotline and were directed to the veterinary college where Dr. Gregard examined the baby beavers, started them on formula, and contacted the local rehabilitator.
The local facility, however, was not set up to care for beavers, so a scramble ensued to find another
rehabilitator who could take on the baby beavers.  Happily, Heather Johnsgaard in Creighton offered to take them.  Transport arrangements were made with Gardewine Trucking (thank you so very much!)
We picked up the babies from the vet hospital and took them home to feed before their long trip to Creighton.    They took enough formula to keep them hydrated.
The backyard pond offered the baby beavers an opportunity to get in the water.  At first they were reluctant, but then seemed to really enjoy it, even walking downstream to float in the deeper end of the pond.
The babies were packed into a plastic tub with rodent pellets and a branch to munch on during the trip, then were taken to Gardewine Trucking where the driver assured us they would be fine, and that he would call Heather when he arrived in Flin Flon sometime around 3:00 A.M.
From there, the story is Heather’s.   But the report came back that the three babies arrived safely.  They are learning about bottles and rubber nipples, and are swimming a bit each day.   We look forward to updates on our first batch of beavers.  We’ll be learning along with them!

So many THANKS to all of you who helped with this rescue:

               WCVM-Dr. Gregard
               Richard Afseth
               Wade Spychaj
               Gardewine Transport
               Heather Johnsgaard