Liz Belanger was tubing down the Cowichan River in Canada with her family, enjoying a peaceful day, when she suddenly heard tiny cries coming from the water that were unlike anything she’d ever heard before.
“My 16-year-old son, Connor, floated through the same little rapids soon after me and heard the same sound, then saw the beaver kit struggling in the water,” Belanger told The Dodo.
Liz Belanger
Without hesitating, the teenager reached his hand underneath the baby, and she grabbed onto him. He pulled her into his chest to keep her warm, and she quickly snuggled in and closed her eyes. The family was in awe that this little baby trusted them so immediately, and it was clear she badly needed their help.
Liz Belanger
Connor refused to let his mom hold the baby for the first hour or so, wanting to protect his new friend for as long as he could. The family had the baby for about four hours before they were able to transfer her into the care of North Island Wildlife Recovery Association (NIWRA).
Liz Belanger
“Each time she opened her eyes over the next 4 hours or so … she just calmly snuggled back into us,” Belanger said. “She was even making little nursing motions and sounds when she was cuddled up in my lap as I drove her to the centre! She was absolutely the most adorable little creature ever!”
Liz Belanger
After checking over the baby, later named Timber, one thing became clear: The Belanger family absolutely did the right thing. There were signs that she’d been without her mom for a while, and without the family’s quick save, little Timber might not have made it.
Liz Belanger
“She arrived cold, dehydrated and completely exhausted,” Joanna Smith from NIWRA told The Dodo. “At that age, she would have still been entirely dependent on her mother, making her survival in the wild highly unlikely without intervention.”
Timber was only about a week old at that point, and things were a bit touch-and-go. Now she’s thriving.
North Island Wildlife Recovery Association
“She’s incredibly determined, confident and curious,” Smith said. “Even at such a young age, Timber has a strong presence and a clear will to survive.”
North Island Wildlife Recovery Association
Baby beavers usually stay with their mom for over a year, so Timber will remain with her rescuers for a while, growing stronger and developing the skills she needs to survive on her own. Once she’s old enough, she’ll be released back into the wild, likely near where the Belanger family found her and saved her life.
To support Timber’s care, you can donate to North Island Wildlife Recovery Association (NIWRA).
Grateful Baby Beaver ‘Smiles’ At Her Rescuers After Being SavedShe was so happy to be rescued ❤️