Wet beaver sightings delight some Vancouver residents
Some beaver sightings that have been shared online have been delighting Vancouver residents.
A video was shared this week to the Vancouver subreddit showing a wet beaver waddling around some park benches. This beaver was spotted in Devonian Harbour Park, which is located at 1929 West Georgia St., right by Stanley Park and Lost Lagoon.
One person jokingly asked, “How can I vote for this beaver in the upcoming election?”
“I donāt think Iāve ever seen a real beaver till now,” said another Redditor.
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Another soaked beaver was later spotted at Lost Lagoon. Some are wondering if it might’ve been the same beaver. If you’re having an issue seeing the videos, just hit refresh.
A 2016 report from the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Park Board sheds some light on the history of beavers in Vancouver. The report states that beavers don’t attack and are most likely to run to the safety of water when frightened, but they can bite if they’re cornered.
The report also featured the results of a poll related to trees that were felled because of beavers, and respondents were asked if animal control should step in to prevent more damage. 64 per cent of respondents said no.
“Since 2010, 45 calls regarding beavers were made. Of these, over half (23) were calling in support of beavers, and a quarter (9) were calling about a beaver nuisance.”
The City of Vancouver says Stanley Park’s Beaver Lake was beaverless until 2008.
“Now, up to five beavers have been seen at once, working tirelessly to plug up the flow of water out of Beaver Lake into Beaver Creek.”
If you’re looking to spot a beaver, the City says they most commonly appear at dawn and dusk “during their usual work schedule.”
“Beavers often appear on the shores of Stanley Park in spring when adolescent beavers have been kicked out of their home lakes in the Fraser River watershed and are forced to find new habitats.”
As is the case with all wildlife in the region, you should not approach, feed, or interfere with the lives of these creatures in any way.