She was so happy to be rescued ❤️
Last month, the staff at Loudoun County Animal Services in Virginia came across something highly unusual — a young beaver, alone in an open field, far from any water source. The beaver, normally elusive and quick to retreat, barely moved. Her lethargy immediately raised red flags.
When animal control officers approached, the beaver didn’t try to flee. Concerned for her wellbeing, they gently scooped her up and rushed her to Kristi’s Caring Hands Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education (KCHWRE). Upon evaluation, the team quickly realized the beaver was far too sick for their level of care. She was transferred again — this time to Blue Ridge Wildlife Center (BRWC), where she would get the advanced treatment she urgently needed.
At BRWC, a full veterinary exam revealed just how serious her condition was. She appeared to be suffering from pneumonia, and X-rays suggested internal trauma — possibly from near-drowning or the collapse of her dam.
“On admission, our veterinary team noted that she was weak with labored breathing,” BRWC wrote in a Facebook update. “X-rays indicate pneumonia or fluid from near-drowning, as well as trauma on the left side.”
Despite her critical condition, the team sprang into action. They administered supportive care and closely monitored her progress around the clock. Though the young beaver couldn’t express her gratitude in words, the peaceful look on her face seemed to say it all.
“She looks like she’s smiling,” one supporter commented on Facebook. “She’s grateful to have been rescued.”
As the days passed, her condition began to improve. With strength returning and her appetite picking up, the BRWC team started piecing together her story. They believe the beaver, likely a juvenile from last year’s litter, had been displaced by flooding or possibly even survived a dam collapse.
“She was found wandering in the middle of an open field,” the center explained. “This is a great improvement in appetite and demeanor!”
With each passing week, her pneumonia cleared and her injuries healed — but there was still one hurdle: keeping weight on her and ensuring she had the right environment to thrive.
“Beavers this age really need to be with conspecifics [others of their species] in enclosures made for the species,” BRWC wrote. “As we do not treat many beavers each year, we do not have dedicated beaver caging.”
So, the center reached out to another expert facility — Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke (SWVWCR) — and arranged a transfer.
Now, safely housed among other rescued beavers, the young survivor is doing better than ever. While she’s not quite ready for release just yet, she’s making steady progress — and her caretakers are confident that she’ll soon be ready to return to the wild.
Until then, the beaver continues to charm everyone she meets with her strength, resilience, and that unmistakable smile.
“We are so fortunate in Virginia to have such an amazing network of permitted wildlife rehabilitators,” BRWC shared. “It truly takes a village.”