Why Monday’s Beaver Sighting Is Likely to Remain a Rare Occurrence
The beaver may have gotten lost, but it knew enough not to head to New Jersey. Photo by Ralph Stone.
The beaver that was spotted swimming in the Hudson River on Monday appeared to be a lone wolf (er beaver) and is unlikely to be followed by dozens of other dam-building friends. That’s the conclusion of several scientists interviewed by the New York Times, which followed up on our story about the beaver.
While the beaver, which was spotted by Ralph Stone around 70th Street on Monday morning, is evidence that the Hudson is getting cleaner, it’s not a harbinger of more to come.
Both Ms. Alter and Mr. Thomas said there was no obvious place for beavers to make a home on the Hudson in New York City, where the shoreline was highly developed and they lack a clear source of food.
George Jackman, a habitat restoration manager for Riverkeeper, an environmental group, said that the Hudson’s salinity and boat traffic made it a dangerous environment for a beaver. He said it was likely that the beaver had gotten lost.
“This is not a hospitable habitat to him,” Mr. Jackman said.
In fact, Andrew Reiter, who spotted the beaver closer to 59th Street on Monday afternoon, said it looked a little confused and out of place.
“I kind of had the sensation that it was, like, a long way from home,” Mr. Reiter said. “Just watching it swim through a little bit of trash, it was moving so slowly.”
Good luck getting home beaver.
Perhaps he should be caught and brought to an area more habitable for a beaver. If he continues to swim southward he’ll wind up in the harbor where there will be no place for him to come ashore and rest. Or eat. He looks exhausted to me. Swimming for a long time with no place to get onto dry land and recoup. Any wild animal groups out there?
So did anyone call Animal Control, or even the Wild Bird Fund, to try and get help? Or we gonna just keep shrugging?
Perhaps Eddie Haskell or Lumpy Rutherford will help the beaver find his way home. Ward and June must be worried sick.
I don’t know which makes me more sad, the realization that this beaver will probably never make it home alive…or the fact I’m old enough to understand that joke. 🙁
‘…said the actress to the bishop’
A couple of us saw a COPPERHEAD on the Riverside Park promenade, around W84th St. …last week (Tuesday evening). YES IT HAD THE HOURGLASS MARKINGS.
Hoping that is a rare sighting too.
Nice beaver
Why not NJ?
The Jersey Shore has great beaches.
Much better swimming in the Hudson River?
Glad it is an indicator of cleaner water.
Can anyone save that poor beaver?
Our Mayor?
No, Mayor, he cannot vote.
Can’t someone rescue it and bring it back to where it belongs?