Lindsaye Akhurst, manager of the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre is trained to rescue harbour seals and otters, but sheB次元官网网址檚 had no experience with beavers B次元官网网址� until last week, that is.
B次元官网网址淲e got a call (on Jan. 26) from the members of the public who thought they saw a beaver get hit by a car, and when they got closer they saw people chasing it into the ocean,B次元官网网址� Akhurst said.
B次元官网网址淪alt water is actually toxic for beavers. We deal with marine life so we called Critter Care to ask for assistance.B次元官网网址�
Staff from LangleyB次元官网网址檚 Critter Care Wildlife Society offered to drive to Vancouver to help locate the animal, but because the beaver was in salt water, there was only so much time. ThatB次元官网网址檚 when Akhurst and another member of the aquarium staff decided to see if they could find the beaver.
Somewhat appropriately, the beaver was located in Stanley ParkB次元官网网址檚 Beaver Creek, which is connected to Beaver Lake, noted Akhurst with a chuckle.
B次元官网网址淲e observed the beaver swimming slowly and looking disoriented,B次元官网网址� she said.
They phoned Critter CareB次元官网网址檚 Breanne Glinnum to share their observations.
B次元官网网址淪he asked us to capture him.B次元官网网址�
Although she has rescued a handful of sea lions, seals and otter pups, Akhurst asked Critter Care what to expect when rescuing a beaver.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e learned so much about beavers. ItB次元官网网址檚 really cool to be able to partner with Critter Care,B次元官网网址� she said.
With help from parks staff, they managed to capture the beaver in brackish water and place it safely in a kennel. Since Akhurst lives close to Critter Care, she transported the beaver to the Langley wildlife rehabilitation centre herself.
The beaver was checked out by Critter Care staff when he arrived. He has since been named Stanley.
B次元官网网址淗e seemed sore, but OK. He needed some anti-inflammatories but luckily we couldnB次元官网网址檛 see any signs of trauma,B次元官网网址� said Glinnum, animal care supervisor at Critter Care.
B次元官网网址淲e checked for toxicity from the salt water but there wasnB次元官网网址檛 any, thanks to the quick work of Vancouver Aquarium staff.B次元官网网址�
Stanley was set up in his own enclosure at the centre where he happily munched on branches and rodent pellets while recovering.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 put on some weight while he was with us,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淗e passed his re-evaluation this morning (Jan. 29) and has the all clear for release in the next few days.B次元官网网址�
Akhurst said it was B次元官网网址渞eally nice to help out and work with Critter Care.B次元官网网址�
Feeling B次元官网网址榠nvestedB次元官网网址� in Stanley, Akhurst personally picked him up for his transport back to Stanley Park.
Vancouver Aquarium worked with the parkB次元官网网址檚 ecological team to find a suitable place to release Stanley.
Once that location was determined, they opened the kennel door and watched the iconic Canadian symbol head for the creek he will call home.
B次元官网网址淗e was so weak when I brought him to Critter Care and it was cool to see him with so much energy,B次元官网网址� Akhurst said.
monique@langleytimes.com
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