Baby Beaver Spotted in California Bay Area Waterway for the First Time in Over 100 Years
One of the coolest things about California is the state's ecological diversity. You can find deserts, mountains, beaches, and valleys all in one state, as well as all the plants and animals that call these climates home.
Not every animal in the Golden State is living the carefree lives of surfers or movie stars, though. Many wild animals have been having a tough time, and several have even become extinct as human populations grow. One species in particular was hunted nearly to extinction in the 19th century, though they're starting to make a comeback. It's the beaver!
In fact, a baby beaver was recently spotted in a South Bay Area creek for the first time in over 160 years! Wildlife researcher Bill Leikam was reviewing wildlife camera footage from August 29 when he saw a small animal he couldn't quite identify.
How cool! It's so fascinating to watch the young animal bouncing along the middle of the night. It certainly doesn't look like any coyote or mouse that locals have seen in the area, so it's easy to understand why Leikam was so confused by the mystery animal.
Leikam is president and co-founder of the Urban Wildlife Research Project, which aims "to restore habitats and corridors in the greater Palo Alto Baylands so that gray foxes and other wildlife may thrive alongside humans." This explains why Leikam's online monicker is The Fox Guy! Even though his trail cameras were meant to observe foxes, it's even more exciting that they caught one of California's most evasive species on tape.
Nationwide, beavers are not endangered or threatened at all, but in California, it's a different story. The state has been making efforts to help restore beavers to waterways since the 1950s, and it seems like the effort is finally paying off.
The beaver kit was seen at Matadero Creek in Palo Alto, not far south from San Francisco. A pair of adults were spotted near this area last year, so Leikam estimates that the baby spotted in late August is the offspring of the adults. A few other beaver sightings have been reported recently, but now there is concrete proof!
Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos.
Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.
