WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: Beaver rescued on Alki

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

When Mark saw that animal in his alley (2900 block of Alki Avenue SW) very early this morning, he thought it was an otter. It’s not unusual to see one of those cross the street – or your path. But he later found out it was a beaver!

Apparently it was disoriented and animal control came by to investigate, retrieve, and rehabilitate it.
Sometime between my early morning sighting and 11 am it had managed to get into the water drains covered by heavy iron grates in the alley. They had to have another Seattle services unit remove the grate and the animal control officer reached down to retrieve it. Needless to say it was a very exciting and interesting morning, most welcome on a quiet gray winter day…

WSOwl March 5, 2024 (2:02 am)

Hope it’s ok and can be released into the wild again.

Pelicans March 5, 2024 (3:33 am)

Oh my,I wonder where he/she was living/working-where a pond and family are still. Can services find that out and return him/her home?Updates, please?

Pelicans March 5, 2024 (3:36 am)

Bravo to all animal services
responding.

22blades March 5, 2024 (4:54 am)

Kudos to Mark (or whoever) for calling Animal Control!👍

anonyme March 5, 2024 (5:57 am)

Poor baby! I hope there is a way to find out where he (or she) came from so that he can be united with his family.

Suzanne March 5, 2024 (6:25 am)

That’s one very lucky beaver. Really great to hear that people went the extra mile to help her/him. Looks healthy but eyes appear stressed. Hopefully this animal quickly recovers.

Grateful March 5, 2024 (6:50 am)

Bless you Mark for getting this cutie help!

Kersti Muul March 5, 2024 (7:33 am)

Possibly has saltwater toxicity like the one I rescued last year down there.

Pamela Adams March 5, 2024 (4:07 pm)

Hi Kersti: That beaver you found last year did not show signs of saltwater toxicity per PAWS team. The vet reported to me after bringing in that beaver on May 4 ’23 they euthanized because it had sepsis from a spinal injury that seemed most likely from a car strike, and they did check for other signs like saltwater toxicity. Yesterday’s beaver discovery is right behind my bungalow – and I can’t believe I wasn’t home at the time. Grateful for neighbor Mark making the good calls. This situation will likely be fairly common this spring with Longfellow Creek beaver families (four families in 3 miles of daylighted sections) at capacity with 30+ beavers. The young ones get itchy to find their own territory but not a lot of habitat left as each family needs about a half mile for foraging . Interesting about Darryl the beaver. Love to scout that creek as I have not found beaver sign there in couple years. More information on our LFC local beavers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/638459631548760/
- Kersti Muul March 5, 2024 (10:07 pm)
  
  PAWS confirmed to me at the time it had saltwater toxicity, as well as spinal injury and sepsis. I have the email
  - Pamela Adams March 6, 2024 (8:21 am)
    
    Oh that’s interesting about the saltwater toxicity noted – the vet that called me told me otherwise. I wish they sent me an email after bringing the beaver in. Makes sense though were that beaver was at the beach.

Kersti Muul March 5, 2024 (8:14 am)

It would have overnighted at SAS and then will be en route to PAWS around 11:00 a.m. when volunteers come check for any pickups

Lucy March 5, 2024 (8:15 am)

I certainly hope this critter is ok and is returned to his “home.” Thank you WSB for publishing stories like this. It is a great respite from crime and politics.

Tim March 5, 2024 (9:22 am)

That might be Darryl. I think he lives near the 5500 block of SW Stevens, in the Schmitz gully.

Pelicans March 5, 2024 (12:46 pm)

Is that block of Stevens within a beaver’s wandering distance, possibly? You must be seeing one regularly if you’re on a first name basis. 😉 (Love the name “Darryl.”)
JayJay March 5, 2024 (1:07 pm)

Darryl? Tim, your comment is the best.

Chris March 5, 2024 (9:41 am)

Oh no! I really hope this isn’t one of the ones from Longfellow Creek and Dragonfly Park!

Tyreya March 5, 2024 (5:06 pm)

I love that he made our community news and I hope is doing better. It was a bit of a calling process with the Seal team, NOAA to Animal Control, but I am thankful that Animal Control came out straight away once they submitted the ticket. My daughter and Mark our neighbor came across him in the wee hours of the morning walking doggies, my daughter tried her darndest to keep him out of the street and safe. However, he had other plans and moved that storm grate and jumped in. Little did we know our other neighbor @pamelaadams is a Beaver expert, we would have called her first thing. Now we know and are thankful to the Seal team for guiding us in the right direction and for Pamela’s expertise.

DT March 5, 2024 (5:40 pm)

That’s a long ways from Canada

Rick March 7, 2024 (7:29 am)

Where’s Wally?

Pamela Adams March 9, 2024 (1:19 am)

Good news update on the Alki beaver rescue.Email from PAWS Wildlife Team 3/8/24:“Thank you for reaching out. The beaver arrived with no injuries or issues that required rehabilitative care, so after a quick check-up the beaver was released!”

WSB March 9, 2024 (1:40 am)

Thank you for the update!
waikikigirl March 9, 2024 (7:55 am)

Thank you for the update! When you say it was released that means back in the area “Darryl” was found correct?

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