Beaver rescued from the streets of Whitby

Durham Regional Police rescued a beaver from the mean streets last night.

The roaming rodent was spotted heading “the wrong ‘dam’ way” down Thickson Road on the evening of April 22. Officers caught up to him by the intersection with Nichol Ave. by the Whitby Mall. The area is home to a large stream and several parks.

Officers located a furry fugitive walking the wrong 'dam' way down Thickson Rd. He resisted tooth and tail but they escorted him to safety where he made his way back into the water. pic.twitter.com/snnJYaRBpL

— Durham Regional Police (@DRPS) April 23, 2024

Though the beaver “resisted tooth and tail” officers were able to escort him to the nearby water and he swam off and out of traffic.

This is the second beaver rescue in the area over the last few months. Back in September another furry fugitive was stranded on Highway 407. In that incident, Animal Services dispatched a pair to rescue the beaver from the road. They recorded a video of his release into his den on a nearby river.

In June 2022, another beaver got lost in the city, though this time it was out in Mississauga. That little guy was a baby (known as a kit) who had wandered off from his family.

The kit was only three to four months old when he got separated from his lodge. Typically, beavers stay with their parents for a couple of years before splitting off to build their own dams.

The Mississauga beaver kit.